DETERMINATION OF LOCAL LEVELS OF RADIATION EXPOSURE IN ORTHOPEDIC INTERVENTIONS USING STRUCTURED DOSE REPORT DATA DRAWN FROM THE HOSPITAL PICTURE ARCHIVING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

The aim of this study was to determine the dosimetric parameters of radiation to which orthopedic in-patients are exposed, using data drawn from the hospital's picture archiving and communication system. Data for 310 patients, relating to seven different anatomical districts, were examined. Femoral operations were divided into three types. The 75th percentile dose at the interventional reference point (IRP) exceeded 2 mGy only for femoral interventions (4.6-6.2 mGy) with 75th percentile kerma-area product (KAP) values ranging from 84.8 to 109.1 μGy m2. The 75th percentile fluoroscopy time was longer than 1 min only for the humeral operations and the three types of femoral intervention. In general, the radiation exposure times and doses recorded in our institute were lower than those reported in the literature. The correlation between KAP and kerma at the IRP was very strong for all districts (R > 0.80). The correlation between KAP and fluoroscopy times was very strong for seven cases (R > 0.80), and strong for two (0.60 < R < 0.79).