Internally Randomized Control Trial of Radiation Exposure Using Ultra-low Radiation Imaging Versus Traditional C-arm Fluoroscopy for Patients Undergoing Single-level Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion.
Published
Journal Article
STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To compare radiation exposure between ultra-low radiation imaging (ULRI) with image enhancement and standard-dose fluoroscopy for patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although the benefits of MIS are lauded by many, there is a significant amount of radiation exposure to surgeon and operating room personnel. Our goal with this work was to see if by using ultra-low dose radiation settings coupled with image enhancement, this exposure could be minimized. METHODS: An institutional review board approved, prospective, internally randomized controlled trial was performed comparing ultra-low dose settings coupled with image enhancement software to conventional fluoroscopic imaging. In this study, each patient served as their own control, randomly assigning one side of MIS-TLIF for cannulation and K-wire placement using each imaging modality. Further, the case was also randomly divided into screw placement and cage placement/final images to allow further comparisons amongst patients. Radiation production from the C-arm fluoroscope and radiation exposure to all operating room personnel were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were randomly assigned to undergo a single level MIS-TLIF. In no case was low radiation imaging abandoned, and no patient had a neurologic decline or required hardware repositioning. Everyone in the operating room-the physician, scrub nurse, circulator, and anesthesiologist-all benefited with 61.6% to 83.5% reduction in radiation exposure during cannulation and K-wire placement to screw insertion aided by ULRI. In every case but the anesthesiologist dose, this was statistically significant (Pā<ā0.05). This benefit required no additional time (Pā=ā0.78 for K-wire placement). CONCLUSION: ULRI, when aided by image enhancement software, affords the ability for all parties in the operating room to substantially decrease their radiation exposure compared with standard-dose C-arm fluoroscopy without adding additional time or an increased complication rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Wang, TY; Farber, SH; Perkins, SS; Back, AG; Byrd, SA; Chi, D; Vincent, D; Karikari, IO
Published Date
- February 15, 2017
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 42 / 4
Start / End Page
- 217 - 223
PubMed ID
- 28207655
Pubmed Central ID
- 28207655
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1528-1159
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1097/BRS.0000000000001720
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States