Imaging services at the Paralympic Games London 2012: analysis of demand and distribution of workload.
BACKGROUND
Very little data have been published on medical imaging services at disability games. 7.9 million euros (£6.6 million, US$11 million) were invested in setting up radiology facilities within purpose built polyclinics at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. This paper details imaging services at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Data analysis on imaging at 2012 Olympics has been published in a separate paper.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the workload on the polyclinics' radiology services, provided for the Paralympic athletes during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.


METHODS
Data were prospectively collected during the period of the Paralympic games from the Picture Archive Communications System (PACS) and the Radiological Information System (RIS). Data were correlated with the medical encounter database (ATOS).


RESULTS
655 imaging episodes were recorded, which comprised 38.8% (n=254) MRI, 33% (n=216) plain radiographs, 24% (n=157) ultrasound scans and 4.2% (n=28) CT scans. Investigations on the Paralympic athletes accounted for 65.2% of workload, with the remainder divided between Paralympic family and workforce.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI was the most used imaging resource and CT was the least used imaging modality at the Paralympic village polyclinic. Analysis of demographic data provides a useful index for planning radiology infrastructure and manpower at future international competitions for athletes with a disability.
British Society of Skeletal Radiology (BSSR)/Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) 2012 Fellow, London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, London, UK County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation trust, Durham, UK.
Sarath
S
Bethapudi
Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
Robert S D
RS
Campbell
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, London, UK English Institute of Sports, Bisham Abbey, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, UK International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Richard
R
Budgett
Member of Medical Committee, International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Bonn, Germany Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Stuart E
SE
Willick
Medical and Scientific Department, IPC, Bonn, Germany Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Canada.
Peter
P
Van de Vliet
D000846:Anniversaries and Special Events; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Epidemiology; MRI; Sporting Injuries; Ultrasound