title: Hazards of Ionizing Radiation and its Impact on Spine Surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spine surgery relies heavily on imaging, with radiography-based devices being the major operating room imaging modality. Radiation exposure is an occupational risk historically recognized shortly after the discovery of radiation itself. Exposure of both patients and operating room staff is of increasing concern as the knowledge regarding the hazards of radiation is steadily accumulating.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a literature review of the history of radiation exposure limits and updates on current studies showing the risks of low-dose exposures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple studies reporting on radiation exposure risk and methods to reduce exposure risks are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We discuss the methods to reduce operating room staff exposure to the minimal amount, thus reducing occupational risks. We recognize that increasing awareness to radiation exposure hazards and promoting the knowledge of methods to reduce exposure of surgeons, nurses, and technicians could result in a reduction of exposure to radiation.
authors.affiliation: The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Uri P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Hadelsberg
authors.affiliation: Spine Surgery Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Talpiot Medical Leadership Program, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel. Electronic address: Ran.Harel@sheba.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harel
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014965:X-Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Occupational risk; Radiation; Spine surgery