Patient knowledge regarding radiation exposure from spinal imaging.
Spine surgeons employ a high volume of imaging in the diagnosis and evaluation of spinal pathology. However, little is known regarding patients' knowledge of the radiation exposure associated with these imaging techniques.



To characterize spine patients' knowledge regarding radiation exposure from various imaging modalities.



A cross-sectional survey study.



One hundred patients at their first clinic visit with a single spine surgeon at an urban institution.



The primary outcome was patient estimate of radiation dose for various common spinal imaging modalities as compared with true dose.



An electronic survey was administered to all new patients before their first appointment with a single spinal surgeon. The survey asked patients to estimate how many chest x-rays (CXRs) worth of radiation were equivalent to various common spinal imaging modalities. Patient estimates were compared to true effective radiation doses determined from the literature. The survey also asked patients whether they would consider avoiding types of imaging modalities out of concern for excessive radiation exposure.



Patients accurately approximated the radiation associated with two views of the cervical spine, with a median estimate of 3.5 CXRs, compared with an actual value of 4.7 CXRs. However, patients underestimated the dose for computed tomography (CT) scans of the cervical spine (2.0 CXRs vs. 145.3 CXRs), two views of the lumbar spine (3.0 CXRs vs. 123.3 CXRs), and CT scans of the lumbar spine (2.0 CXRs vs. 638.3 CXRs). The majority of patients believed that there is at least some radiation exposure associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The percent of patients who would consider forgoing imaging recommend by their surgeon out of concern for radiation exposure was 14% for x-rays, 13% for CT scans, and 9% for MRI.



These results demonstrate a lack of patient understanding regarding radiation exposure associated with common spinal imaging techniques. These data suggest that patients might benefit from increased counseling and/or educational materials regarding radiation exposure before undergoing diagnostic imaging of the cervical or lumbar spine.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Daniel D
DD
Bohl
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Fady Y
FY
Hijji
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Dustin H
DH
Massel
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Benjamin C
BC
Mayo
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
William W
WW
Long
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Krishna D
KD
Modi
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Ankur S
AS
Narain
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Blaine T
BT
Manning
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Junyoung
J
Ahn
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Philip K
PK
Louie
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, 1611 W. Harrison St. Suite #300, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Electronic address: kern.singh@rushortho.com.
Kern
K
Singh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure; D011859:Radiography; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
Cancer risk; Computed tomography; Effective radiation dose; Radiation; Spinal imaging