Reduced radiation exposure from medical imaging in young children is recommended to decrease their potential risks in developing cancer. Seemingly, orthopedic surgeons are the ones mostly involved in requesting such tests, that's why several important medical practices are proposed for them to follow. These best practices are suggested to reduce exposure in children by correctly determining the necessity of medical imaging.
Since children are vulnerable to radiation exposure from medical imaging, it is advised that surgeons optimize their decision-making when it comes to requesting patients to undergo tests such as X-Ray and CT scan. This will reportedly reduce unnecessary exposure without compromising proper treatment. Surgeons are also recommended to follow the "as low as reasonably achievable" principle dubbed as "ALARA" that's designed to minimize exposure to specific body parts that need the diagnosis.
Another practice that medical professionals need to observe is limiting repeated medical imaging exposure because of technical errors. It is necessary for laboratory practitioners to ensure the reliability of equipment and materials before conducting tests.
Moreover, it is also important for orthopedic surgeons to know which medical imaging suits a certain condition. For scanning or checking extremities like ankles or wrists, X-ray is the acceptable tool to utilize. Triplane fractures, on the other hand, could be better assessed with the use of CT scan. For a full list of best practice surgeons must follow for reduced radiation exposure, click here.
Meanwhile, it is not the first time that healthcare providers highlight the significance of reduced radiation exposure from medical imaging. As per a report by Business Wire, seven among the leading medical centers and hospitals across the United States are going to receive funds to further the medical practitioners' education and training to improve patient care and diagnostic imaging safety.
This move includes interventions that promote reduced radiation exposure from medical imaging such as safeguarding radiography rooms with lead walls and implementing training to limit radiation dose in fluoroscopy. With these movements in action, children and even adults could benefit from the decreased exposure to radiation that might pose risks to overall health later in life.
