Establishing local diagnostic reference levels for mini C-arm use in upper limb surgery - A step towards national audit.

Aims: Under the Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations, hospitals using fluoroscopy and image intensifiers should monitor doses from exposures using ionising radiation. There is a need for national diagnostic reference levels to advise Orthopaedic and Plastic surgeons on safe screening times and radiation doses for patients having upper limb surgical procedures.

Methods: Retrospective study of all patients who underwent upper limb surgical procedures requiring intra-operative mini C-arm image intensifier use at our hospital between 2013 and 2019.