Role of the Laser Pointer in Budgeting Fluoroscopy Time and Radiation Exposure

Thirty (30) orthopaedic surgeons from the University of Florida Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation will be recruited and enrolled in the study to determine whether having a laser pointed on a fluoroscopy machine can significantly decrease the amount of radiation exposure as measured while obtaining multiple views during surgery as well as decrease radiation exposure and time to accomplish the goals of surgery.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Surgeons using fluoroscopy with laser pointer; Procedure: Surgeons using fluoroscopy without laser pointer

Detailed Description

The subject be asked to participate in one test session at the UF Psychomotor and Surgical Skills Lab located in the UF Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Institute. During this test session the patient will be asked to wear a 0.5mm thick lead wrap-around apron and thyroid shield for maximal protection from radiation. The patient will also be asked to wear three dosimeter badges: one on the collar, one on the waist, and a ring badge under a pair of regular sterile surgical gloves.

The patient will attempt to obtain a "perfect" anterior-posterior (AP) and axillary views of a cadaver wrist using a mini-fluoroscopy unit equipped with a laser pointer.

A "perfect" view is considered the ability to obtain perfect circle views through a cannulated mini acutrak screw that will have been placed into the cadaver prior to data collection.

The patient will attempt to achieve the perfect views using the fluoroscopy unit with and without the laser pointer. The use of the laser pointer will be randomized by a randomization table that is prepared prior to testing. The patient's total fluoroscopy time and the number of shots you take for each task recorded. The investigators will also record the number of years training the patient has as an orthopaedic surgeon.

Female Participants: Because the radiation exposure from the fluoroscopy machine in this study might affect an unborn baby, the patient will not be allowed to participate in the study if they are pregnant. All women of childbearing potential must take a pregnancy test prior to participating in this study.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 25

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611
      • UF and Shands Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 22 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Thirty (30) orthopaedic surgeons (Attendings, Fellows, and Residents) from the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation will be recruited and enrolled in the study

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

orthopaedic surgeons (Attendings, Fellows, and Residents) from the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Exclusion Criteria:

non-orthopaedic surgeons (Attendings, Fellows, and Residents) from the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Surgeons using fluoroscopy with laser pointer; Surgeons will attempt to obtain a "perfect" anterior-posterior (AP) and axillary views of a cadaver wrist using a mini-fluoroscopy unit equipped with a laser pointer. A "perfect" view is considered the ability to obtain perfect circle views through a cannulated mini acutrak screw that will have been placed into the cadaver prior to data collection. Surgeons will also be asked to wear three dosimeter badges: one on the collar, one on the waist, and a ring badge under a pair of regular sterile surgical gloves.	Procedure: Surgeons using fluoroscopy with laser pointer; Surgeons will attempt to obtain a "perfect" anterior-posterior (AP) and axillary views of a cadaver wrist using a mini-fluoroscopy unit equipped with a laser pointer. A "perfect" view is considered the ability to obtain perfect circle views through a cannulated mini acutrak screw that will have been placed into the cadaver prior to data collection. Surgeons will also be asked to wear three dosimeter badges: one on the collar, one on the waist, and a ring badge under a pair of regular sterile surgical gloves.
Surgeons using fluoroscopy without laser pointer; Surgeons will attempt to obtain a "perfect" anterior-posterior (AP) and axillary views of a cadaver wrist using a mini-fluoroscopy unit equipped without a laser pointer. A "perfect" view is considered the ability to obtain perfect circle views through a cannulated mini acutrak screw that will have been placed into the cadaver prior to data collection. Surgeons will also be asked to wear three dosimeter badges: one on the collar, one on the waist, and a ring badge under a pair of regular sterile surgical gloves.	Procedure: Surgeons using fluoroscopy without laser pointer; Surgeons will attempt to obtain a "perfect" anterior-posterior (AP) and axillary views of a cadaver wrist using a mini-fluoroscopy unit equipped without a laser pointer. A "perfect" view is considered the ability to obtain perfect circle views through a cannulated mini acutrak screw that will have been placed into the cadaver prior to data collection. Surgeons will also be asked to wear three dosimeter badges: one on the collar, one on the waist, and a ring badge under a pair of regular sterile surgical gloves.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total radiation exposure with laser pointer will be measured.	All dosimeters will be read for total radiation exposure. Data analysis will include simple statistics to compare the total radiation exposure and number of shots taken per task using each of the fluoroscopy machines with laser pointer.	1 hour
Total radiation exposure without laser pointer will be measured.	All dosimeters will be read for total radiation exposure. Data analysis will include simple statistics to compare the total radiation exposure and number of shots taken per task using each of the fluoroscopy machines without laser pointer.	1 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Florida
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert Matthias, M.D., University of Florida

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Actual): May 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 29, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): January 31, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 26, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2015
• Last Verified: February 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 201300829