A Prospective Cohort Study of Radiation Exposure to a Spine Surgeon's Exposed Body Parts During Utilization of Intraoperative Radiation-based Imaging.

Our study found that spine surgeons encounter significantly more radiation exposure to the eyes and the extremities compared with protected body regions. Lifetime exposure exceeds the annual limits set by the International Commission on Radiologic Protection for the extremities (50,000 mrem/y) and the eyes (15,000 mrem/y), calling for increased awareness about the dangerous levels of radiation exposure that a spine surgeon incurs over one's career.