Radiation protection

Hi all,

I was just curious as to what radiation protection other residents have at their programs.
Where I'm at we have lead gowns and thyroid shields but are not provided with sterile lead gloves nor eye protection. (I mean we have surgical eye shield but no protection from radiation). I am worried about the risk of long term exposure so will probably go buy my own.

Please let me know what you do at your program ....

Many thanks.

I only wear lead gloves when I have my concrete shoes on. Are you serious? Have you ever operated wearing lead gloves? Don't forget your helmet.

I spent a day with an orthopaedic legend in his 70s who is now blind from cataracts and can't operate or drive. He suspects his cataracts are from radiation but who knows. I use the standard gown, carry my own thyroid shield, and bought some lead glasses (also splash protection). I also stand back whenever I can. Keeping your gonads, eyes and thyroid out of the field are important--hands not so much. There is a yellow journal article on this topic.

I spent a day with an orthopaedic legend in his 70s who is now blind from cataracts and can't operate or drive. He suspects his cataracts are from radiation but who knows.

More likely, his cataracts are from being 70+ years old, since it is a condition that everyone will eventually develop if they live long enough.

A few people on here are giving you a hard time, but I am in complete agreement with you on this. I have spoken to a couple of my hometown orthopods who have strongly recommended radiation eye protection. I will be purchasing some on my own. I have seen prices $200-300. I think it is worth it. I can't quote any articles etc and even on the OSHA website it is hard to find information on this. I plan on calling OSHA and specifically asking about this issue.

I am only 28 years old and I plan on kicking back with a cold beer on a beach somewhere when I am 70 not blind with terminal cancer.

Here is an abstract about the hazards of working around radiation, and how sensitive the eyes are to it. Although it is referring to anesthesiologists radiation exposure of any kind is detrimental to your eyes.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21577097

I'd wear the lead glasses . Also the link here has them for a lot less than the 200-300 range you mentioned.