Prevalence of spinal disc disease among interventional cardiologists.
A suspected, but undocumented, excess of axial skeletal disease among interventional cardiologists (possibly a consequence of lead apron use) was investigated by comparing questionnaire responses from cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, and rheumatologists (n = 714). Cardiologists reported more neck and back pain, more subsequent time lost from work, and a higher incidence of cervical disc herniations, as well as multiple level disc disease (all p <0.01): "interventionalist's disc disease" is a confirmed entity.
Ross
A M
AM
Department of Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA.
Segal
J
J
Borenstein
D
D
Jenkins
E
E
Cho
S
S
D000328:Adult; D002309:Cardiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011835:Radiation Protection; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors