title: Occupational noise levels in orthopaedic surgery.
abstract: Prolonged exposure to potentially damaging noise levels in the workplace has been the subject of much recent litigation. The occupational risk of noise induced hearing loss among orthopaedic surgeons is unknown. Continuous readings of air-powered instruments routinely used in orthopaedic surgery were made in a regional trauma unit at standard distance from the noise source. All instruments generated noise levels greater than the threshold for routine monitoring of hearing loss under health and safety legislation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mullett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Synnott
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quinlan
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D009623:Noise, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D009985:Orthopedics; D018570:Risk Assessment