Radiation exposure doses to the surgical team during hip surgery is significantly higher during lateral imaging than posteroanterior imaging: a cadaveric simulation study.

BACKGROUND: Fluoroscopy is indispensable when determining appropriate and effective interventions in orthopedic surgery. On the other hand, there is growing concern about the health hazards of occupational radiation exposure. The aim of this cadaveric simulation study was to measure radiation exposure doses to the surgical team during hip surgery. METHODS: We reproduced the intraoperative setting of hip surgery using 7 fresh frozen cadavers (5 male, 2 female) to simulate patients and mannequins to simulate the surgeon, scrub nurse, and anesthesiologist. Six real-time dosimeters were mounted at sites corresponding to the optic lens, thyroid gland, chest, gonads, foot, and hand on each mannequin. The radiation exposure dose to each team member was measured during posteroanterior and lateral fluoroscopic imaging. RESULTS: Radiation exposure doses to the surgeon were significantly higher during 3 min of lateral imaging than during 3 min of posteroanterior imaging at the optic lens (8.1 times higher), thyroid gland (10.3 times), chest (10.8 times), and hand (19.8 times) (p = 0.018, p = 0.018, p = 0.018, and p = 0.018, respectively). During lateral imaging, the radiation doses to the nurse were 0.16, 0.12, 0.09, 0.72, and 0.38 times those to the surgeon at the optic lens, thyroid, chest, gonads, and foot, respectively. The radiation dose to the anesthesiologist was zero at all anatomic sites during posteroanterior imaging and very small during lateral imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation exposure dose was significantly higher during lateral imaging up to 19.8 times comparing to the posteroanterior imaging. It is effective to reduce the lateral imaging time for reducing the intraoperative radiation exposure. In addition, appropriate distance from fluoroscopy resulted in very low exposure for nurses and anesthesiologists. Surgeon should pay attention that surgical staff do not get closer than necessary to the irradiation field.

A Cadaveric Simulation Study of Radiation Exposure to the Surgical Team during Fluoroscopic Spinal Surgery: How Much Are We Exposed?

Introduction: The harmful effects of long-term low-dose radiation have been well known. There are few comprehensive reports evaluating concrete real exposure doses for each part of a surgeon, assistant surgeon, scrub nurse, and anesthesiologist associated with fluoroscopic spinal procedures. This research aimed to quantify the radiation exposure dose to surgical team members during C-arm fluoroscopy-guided spinal surgery. Methods: Seven fresh cadavers were irradiated for 1 and 3 min with C-arm fluoroscopy. The position of the X-ray source was under the table, over the table, and laterally. The radiation exposure doses were measured at the optic lens, thyroid gland, and hand in mannequins used to simulate surgical team members. Results: A significant difference was observed in the radiation exposure dose according to the position of the X-ray source and the irradiated body area. The risk of scatter radiation exposure was the biggest for the lateral position (nearly 30-fold that for the position under the table). All radiation exposure doses were positively correlated with irradiation time. Conclusions: The occupational radiation exposure dose to surgical team members during C-arm fluoroscopy-guided lumbar spinal procedures varies according to the X-ray source position. Our findings would help surgical team members to know the risk of radiation exposure during various fluoroscopic procedures. Surgeons in particular need to reduce their radiation exposure by using appropriate shielding and technique.

Intra- and inter-rater reliability of a three-dimensional classification system for intertrochanteric fracture using computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Intertrochanteric fractures are common fragility fractures in elderly patients. The importance of a reliable classification system for these fractures has been increasingly recognized. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that three-dimensional classification by CT has better intra- and inter-observer reliability than conventional two-dimensional classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and three consecutive patients (39 male, 164 female; mean age 84.5 years) with intertrochanteric fracture were included in the study. In each case, the fracture was classified using the two-dimensional Evans-Jensen and AO/OTA systems that rely on plain radiographs and using a three-dimensional fragment-based CT system. The second evaluation was performed 1 month after the first evaluation by the same examiner to determine intra-observer reliability. Another blinded examiner also classified each case to assess inter-observer reliability. The kappa coefficient was used for determination of intra- and inter-observer reliability. RESULTS: The kappa values for the two-dimensional Evans-Jensen and AO/OTA classification systems showed moderate intra-observer reliability (κ=0.65 and κ=0.61, respectively) and slight inter-observer reliability (κ=0.20 and κ=0.19). The intra-observer kappa value for the three-dimensional classification system was 0.88, indicating almost perfect reliability; the inter-observer kappa value was 0.70, indicating substantial reliability. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study confirm that the fragment-based classification system has high reliability. Surgeons should be aware that the three-dimensional fragment-based CT system for classification of intertrochanteric fractures has better intra-observer and inter-observer reliability than the conventional two-dimensional systems.

A novel three-dimensional classification system for intertrochanteric fractures based on computed tomography findings.

A novel three-dimensional fragment-based classification system based on computed tomography findings was established to characterize femoral intertrochanteric fractures. The intertrochanteric bone fragments were defined as follows : neck, posterior portion of the greater trochanter, anterior portion of the greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, and shaft. Each type of fracture was classified as 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-fragment according to the number of floating bone fragments. Following the description of the fracture type, each floating bone fragment was appended, with the exception of a fragment involving the shaft. Ninety-five intertrochanteric fractures were classified by the same surgeon. The fractures occurred in 14 men and 81 women with a mean age of 84.7 years. The frequency of each type of fracture was investigated. Thirty-one fractures (32.6%) were 2-fragment and 64 (67.4%) were ≥ 3-fragment. A fragment of the anterior portion of the greater trochanter, which cannot be classified using conventional systems, was included in 29 cases (30.5%). A 5-fragment fracture was detected in two cases (2.1%). Using this fragment-based classification system, intertrochanteric fractures can be evaluated in more detail than is possible using conventional classification systems. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 362-366, August, 2019.

Reverse adipofascial flap after resection of a malignant perineurioma of the forearm.

The authors describe a patient with recurrent perineurioma arising in the subcutaneous tissue of the dorsal forearm and extending along the forearm fascia. Soft tissue perineurioma is a rare, originally benign peripheral nerve sheath neoplasm arising from the perineurium, a protective cell barrier surrounding the individual fascicles in peripheral nerves. Perineurioma has only recently been recognized as an entity distinct from other nerve sheath tumors, such as schwannoma and neurofibroma, with unique morphologic, ultrastructural, and immunoreactive features. The recurrent tumor had converted into malignant perineurioma, defined as increased nuclear pleomorphism and cellularity. The ill-marginate feature extending along the fascia required wide resection, leaving a substantial defect on the distal forearm. Surgical repair of large forearm skin defects is challenging because of limited skin extensibility for flap creation, the prominence of the site in terms of aesthetic outcome, and the risk of damage to extrinsic muscles that control delicate hand movements. The reverse forearm adipofascial flap, which was based on distal perforators of the radial artery, was suitable for the current case to cover the exposed myotendinous junctions of the forearm extensor muscles. This flap did not sacrifice skin, a major vessel, or skeletal muscles, and preserved function at both the donor and the recipient sites. The texture of the graft was similar to that of the surrounding skin. The clinical and histopathologic features of this rare tumor are also described to aid in the differential diagnosis and as a reference for surgeons who treat soft tissue neoplasms and may encounter this type of soft tumor.

Navigation-Assisted Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis with Extra-Articular Femoral Deformity and/or Retained Hardware.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis (OA) patients with extra-articular deformity is still challenging because angular deformity, canal sclerosis, or the retained hardware that precludes the use of the traditional intramedullary guide. In addition, atypical bone cut for intra-articular correction leads to imbalanced soft tissue gap. Furthermore, corrective osteotomy should be considered for severe deformity or para-articular deformity cases. Recently, navigation-assisted TKA has been reported to increase the accuracy of prosthetic positioning and limb alignment. This system can calculate mechanical axis regardless of extra-articular deformity, canal sclerosis, or retained hardware. Accordingly, navigation surgery has been considered to be a powerful option especially in TKAs with extra-articular deformity cases. Here, we report 3 successful navigation-assisted TKAs for osteoarthritis with extra-articular deformities and/or retained hardware. Navigation-assisted TKA is an effective and reliable alternative for patients with extra-articular deformities.