Scattered radiation during fixation of hip fractures-is distance alone enough protection

We measured the scattered radiation received by theatre staff with high sensitivity dosimeters, during dynamic hip screw fixation for extracapsular neck of femur fractures. The dose received was correlated to the distance from the radiation source. Additionally, a scintillation monitor and a scattered water phantom were used to define a scattered radiation dose rate map of a standard operating theatre during dynamic hip screw fixation. Beyond two meters from the radiation source the scattered dose received was non-measurable, while within the operating distance it was consistently higher at neck level than at waist level. Routine use of lead gowns outside the two meters safe zone maybe unnecessary whilst within that zone they offer inadequate protection at neck level