The effects, risks, and guidelines for radiation use in orthopaedic surgery

Radiation is used during orthopaedic surgery in more than 15 million studie s performed yearly. The biologic effects of radiation have been shown to in hibit mitosis by producing irrepairable deoxyribonucleic acid double strand breaks or create structural changes by damaging the nucleus, thereby produ cing potential genetic transmissions. Although human cells are thought to b e resistant to malignant change and no studies have shown toxic effects res ulting from long-term exposure to low-dose radiation, risks still are assum ed. To decrease all risks, radiographic units should undergo periodic calib ration, surgeons should wear protective devices, increase their working dis tance from the xray beam, and limit their duration of radiation exposure by making certain that they follow the guidelines set forth by the National C ouncil for Radiation Protection and Measurement.