Senior Thesis

Abstract

The Primary Determinants of Radiation Use During Fixation of Proximal Femur Fractures

 

Michael D. Baratz M.D.,1* Yue-Yung Hu M.D. M.P.H.,2 David Zurakowski Ph.D.,3 Paul Appleton M.D.,1 Edward K. Rodriguez M.D. Ph.D.,1

 

1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02114, 2Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02114, 3Department of Anesthesia, Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02114

Objectives

To establish the primary determinants of operative radiation use during fixation of proximal femur fractures.

Design

Retrospective cohort study

Setting

Level I trauma center

Cohort

205 patients treated surgically for subtrochanteric and intertrochanteric femoral fractures.

Main Outcome Measures

Fluoroscopy time, dose-area-product (DAP)

Results

Longer fluoroscopy time was correlated with higher body mass index (p = 0.04), subtrochanteric fracture (p < 0.001), attending surgeon (p = 0.001), and implant type (p < 0.001). Increased DAP was associated with higher body mass index (p < 0.001), subtrochanteric fracture (p = 0.002), attending surgeon (p = 0.003), lateral body position (p < 0.001), and implant type (p = 0.05).

Conclusion

The strongest predictors of radiation use during surgical fixation of intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric femur fractures were location of fracture, patient body position, patient body mass index, and the use of long cephalomedullary devices. Surgeon style, presumably as it relates to teaching efforts, seems to strongly influence radiation use.

2013 Harvard Orthopaedic Journal Volume 15 Download: The Harvard Orthopaedic Journal
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