Radiation exposure of patients during mini C-arm use: an audit in 2032 procedures.

Abstract

This study aimed to audit large quantities of mini C-arm data used in hand and wrist surgery and to analyse what effect the type and anatomical location of procedures had on screening time and dose area product. Of a total of 2032 procedures, the median screening time was 11 seconds and median dose area product was 0.75 cGycm2. The third quartile value for screening time was 23 seconds and dose area product was 1.62 cGycm2. The median screening time for closed procedures was 7 seconds and the dose area product was 0.57 cGycm2. The median screening time for open surgery was 23 seconds with a median dose area product of 1.45 cGycm2. The data for steroid injection procedures were similar to those of the closed procedures, with a median screening time of 7 seconds and dose area product of 0.45 cGycm2. We found no significant differences in the screening time or dose area product between procedures on the wrist and forearm compared with the hand and digits. Level of evidence: III.