Individual and population doses in Manitoba from chiropractic x-ray procedures

Abstract

Manitoba (population of 1.0 million) has a total of 37 chiropractors who perform X-rays on behalf of the 100 practising chiropractors. In 1987 these specialists performed approximately 33300 spinal X-ray studies. Of the three main types of studies done, cervical spine examinations contribute the lowest patient does (average HE of 26 mu Sv) while thoracic and lumbar spine examinations show a considerably higher patient dose (HE in the range 240-410 mu Sv). The average patient HE was determined to be 220 mu Sv. Lumbar spine examinations account for 45% of all chiropractic X-ray examinations, and contribute 84% of the collective dose. Cervical spine examinations also account for 45% of chiropractic X-ray examinations, but contribute only 5% of the collective dose with thoracic spine examinations contributing the 11% balance of the collective dose. Patients undergoing chiropractic procedures involving exposure to X-rays account for about 3.6% of all diagnostic X-ray procedures in this province. The per caput dose contribution from chiropractic practice was calculated to be 7.3 mu Sv which is estimated to be about 1.2% of the total population dose from diagnostic procedures employing ionising radiation.