Abstract
Background This study aims to assessment the Brazilian orthopedic surgeon’s knowledge about ionizing radiation and its implications over the health of the surgical team and the patients. Methods A Cross-sectional study was performed using a questionnaire of fifteen questions about theoretical and practical concepts regarding ionizing radiation, during the 23 rd Brazilian Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual meeting. The participant needed to be an orthopedic surgeon or an orthopedic surgery resident in a Brazilian institution, in order to be included in the study. The questionnaire addressed the specialty within orthopedic surgery, issues such as radiation protection use and safety concepts, participants’ children gender and exposition to radiation. Results 258 questionnaires were fully answered. Only 5.8% of the participants use the three basic radiation protection equipment (apron, thyroid shield, and radiation protection glasses); 47.3% use the dosimeter; 2.7% hit the acceptable annual maximum radiation dose; 10.5% knew the gestation period of greater risk to the fetus and 5.8%, the acceptable maximum radiation dose during pregnancy; 58.5% got right that the hands, the eyes and the thyroid are the most exposed and at greater risk of radiation related lesions; 25.2% knew that the distance of 3 meters or more from the radiation-emitting tube is safe; 44.2% knew the safest positioning of the radiation-emitting tube; 25.2% got right that smaller tubes emit greater entrance dose to magnify the image and, therefore, emit more radiation; and 55.4% knew that the surgery team receives more scattered radiation in surgical procedures performed in obese patients. Conclusion It is needed an immediate educational overall plan to orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic surgery residents, so that surgical staff and patients may be less exposed and, therefore, less vulnerable to harmful effects of ionizing radiation.