Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
J Pediatr Orthop. 2024 Oct 1;44(9):e858-e862. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002767. Epub 2024 Jul 18.
Orthopaedic surgeons routinely face exposure to ionizing radiation during intraoperative use of fluoroscopy. Lead personal protective equipment reduces occupational radiation exposure. Female-specific lead aprons are designed with expanded lateral coverage to improve protection of breast tissue against radiation beams. The purpose of this study was to identify current trends in knowledge and utilization of female-specific lead aprons as well as any barriers to utilization.
An anonymous electronic survey including 20 multiple choice and multiple selection responses was distributed to all members of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA). Respondents who reported the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy in their practice were included in the study.
Most respondents were attending surgeons (91%) and practiced in an academic setting (85%) in an urban environment (75%). Most respondents reported using a lead apron for every case (76%) and a thyroid shield for every case (75%), while most respondents reported they do not wear lead glasses (73%). Fifty-one percent of respondents were aware of female-specific lead aprons. The majority of respondents reported female-specific lead is unavailable (45%) or available in insufficient quantities (5.5%) at their institution. Ninety percent of females reported they do not wear female-specific lead with the common reasons being lack of availability and discomfort.
Knowledge of female-specific lead is low with lack of availability as a common barrier to utilization. As female presence in the field of orthopaedic surgery expands, efforts should be made to improve education and availability of sex-specific lead aprons.
骨科医生在术中使用透视时经常会接触到电离辐射。使用铅质个人防护设备可以减少职业辐射暴露。女性专用铅围裙的设计具有扩展的侧部覆盖范围，以提高对乳房组织免受射线束的保护。本研究旨在确定女性专用铅围裙的使用知识和利用现状，以及利用的障碍。
向北美小儿矫形外科学会（POSNA）的所有成员分发了一份包含 20 个多项选择和多项选择回复的匿名电子调查。报告在其实践中使用术中透视的受访者被纳入研究。
大多数受访者是主治外科医生（91%），在城市环境中的学术环境中工作（85%）。大多数受访者报告说，他们每例都使用铅围裙（76%）和甲状腺屏蔽器（75%），而大多数受访者表示他们不戴铅眼镜（73%）。51%的受访者知道女性专用的铅围裙。大多数受访者报告说，他们所在机构的女性专用铅围裙不可用（45%）或数量不足（5.5%）。90%的女性报告说，她们不穿女性专用的铅围裙，常见的原因是缺乏可用性和不舒适。
对女性专用铅的认识水平较低，可用性不足是利用的常见障碍。随着女性在骨科手术领域的增加，应努力提高对性别特异性铅围裙的教育和可用性。
