A January 1997 article in the American Journal of Cardiology stated “Cardiologists reported more neck and back pain, more subsequent time lost from work, and a higher incidence of cervical disc herniations, as well as multiple level disc disease.” The article states that ““Interventionalist’s Disc Disease” is a confirmed entity” and that this is “possibly a consequence of lead apron use”.
A.M. Ross, J. Segal, D. Borenstein, E. Jenkins, S. Cho Prevalence of spinal disc disease among interventional cardiologists
Am J Cardiol, 79 (1997), pp. 68-70
An August 2000 article in the American Journal of Neuroradiology states “cardiologists who wore lead aprons had a significantly higher incidence of skeletal complaints and more days missed from work because of back pain than did individuals of the control group.” The article also states, “Wearing a 15-pound lead apron can place pressures of up to 300 pounds per square inch of intravertebral discs.”
Pelz, David Low back pain, lead aprons, and the Angiographer
Am J Neuroradiology, August 2000
A 2004 article in Catheter Cardiovascular Intervention states, “Heavy leaded aprons worn to reduce this risk may be associated with orthopedic complications… These results document that interventional cardiologists commonly suffer orthopedic disease, frequently leading to lost work days.”
Goldstein JA, et al Occupational hazards of interventional cardiologists: prevalence of orthopedic health problems in contemporary practice
Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. December 2004
A 2006 article by The Society for Cardiovascular Interventions states, “The physical stresses inherent in this career choice also appear to be associated with a predilection to orthopedic injuries, attributable in great part to the cumulative adverse effects of bearing the weight of leaded apparel.”
Dehmer, G Occupational Hazards for Interventional Cardiologists
SCAI President’s Page November 2006
A 2011 publication in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology established that the same problems faced by interventional cardiologists are faced by electrophysiologists. “Interventional electrophysiologists stand, wearing lead for many hours each week… We found a significantly increased prevalence of cervical spondylosis in interventional electrophysiologists than in a control group. The disease had very significant chronic symptoms in most sufferers and many had to take leave from the electrophysiology laboratory.”
Prevalence and risk factors for cervical and lumbar spondylosis in interventional electrophysiologists.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2011 Sep;22(9):957-60
A 2015 article in Cardiology Today’s Intervention states, “high rates of musculoskeletal issues continue to plague those employed in the interventional fluoroscopic laboratory. Heavy personal radiation protective gear in the form of lead aprons worn to combat radiation exposure have been linked to neck, spine, hip and knee injuries that are shortening careers and limiting activities outside of work…. It is clear that there is a significantly higher occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries for cath lab personnel compared with other health care workers.”
Cath Lab Hazard: Orthopedic Injuries
Cardiology Today’s Intervention July 2015
A 2017 Society of Interventional Radiology publication reports, “The high prevalence of neck and back pain among interventional radiologists is likely the result of a combination of the chronic effect of wearing protective garments, standing for long periods of time, and maintaining awkward, ergonomically unsound positions.”
Dixon, Robert et el Occupational Back and Neck Pain and the Interventional Radiologist
J Vasc Interv Radiol 2017; 28: 195-199
A 2018 publication in TCTMD/the heart beat summarizes, “Plenty of operators end up having to switch careers because of the toll lead protection takes on our muscles and bones… innovation is truly needed in this area.”
Gupta, Ankur Cath Lab Hazards: Combat Them With Knowledge
TCTMD/the heart beat November 2017
A March 2015 article in the American Journal of Cardiology establishes that the incidence of musculoskeletal pain is considerably higher among technicians and nurses than physicians. “Musculoskeletal pain varied significantly by job description, with the highest incidence reported by technicians (62%) and nurses (60%) followed by attending physicians (44%) and trainees (19%; p < 0.001).”
Orme, Nicholas et el Occupational Health Hazards of Working in the Interventional Laboratory: A Multisite Case Control Study of Physicians and Allied Staff
Am J Cardiol Volume 65, Issue 8, 3 March 2015
A.M. Ross, J. Segal, D. Borenstein, E. Jenkins, S. Cho Prevalence of spinal disc disease among interventional cardiologists
Am J Cardiol, 79 (1997), pp. 68-70
An August 2000 article in the American Journal of Neuroradiology states “cardiologists who wore lead aprons had a significantly higher incidence of skeletal complaints and more days missed from work because of back pain than did individuals of the control group.” The article also states, “Wearing a 15-pound lead apron can place pressures of up to 300 pounds per square inch of intravertebral discs.”
Pelz, David Low back pain, lead aprons, and the Angiographer
Am J Neuroradiology, August 2000
A 2004 article in Catheter Cardiovascular Intervention states, “Heavy leaded aprons worn to reduce this risk may be associated with orthopedic complications… These results document that interventional cardiologists commonly suffer orthopedic disease, frequently leading to lost work days.”
Goldstein JA, et al Occupational hazards of interventional cardiologists: prevalence of orthopedic health problems in contemporary practice
Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. December 2004
A 2006 article by The Society for Cardiovascular Interventions states, “The physical stresses inherent in this career choice also appear to be associated with a predilection to orthopedic injuries, attributable in great part to the cumulative adverse effects of bearing the weight of leaded apparel.”
Dehmer, G Occupational Hazards for Interventional Cardiologists
SCAI President’s Page November 2006
A 2011 publication in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology established that the same problems faced by interventional cardiologists are faced by electrophysiologists. “Interventional electrophysiologists stand, wearing lead for many hours each week… We found a significantly increased prevalence of cervical spondylosis in interventional electrophysiologists than in a control group. The disease had very significant chronic symptoms in most sufferers and many had to take leave from the electrophysiology laboratory.”
Prevalence and risk factors for cervical and lumbar spondylosis in interventional electrophysiologists.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2011 Sep;22(9):957-60
A 2015 article in Cardiology Today’s Intervention states, “high rates of musculoskeletal issues continue to plague those employed in the interventional fluoroscopic laboratory. Heavy personal radiation protective gear in the form of lead aprons worn to combat radiation exposure have been linked to neck, spine, hip and knee injuries that are shortening careers and limiting activities outside of work…. It is clear that there is a significantly higher occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries for cath lab personnel compared with other health care workers.”
Cath Lab Hazard: Orthopedic Injuries
Cardiology Today’s Intervention July 2015
A 2017 Society of Interventional Radiology publication reports, “The high prevalence of neck and back pain among interventional radiologists is likely the result of a combination of the chronic effect of wearing protective garments, standing for long periods of time, and maintaining awkward, ergonomically unsound positions.”
Dixon, Robert et el Occupational Back and Neck Pain and the Interventional Radiologist
J Vasc Interv Radiol 2017; 28: 195-199
A 2018 publication in TCTMD/the heart beat summarizes, “Plenty of operators end up having to switch careers because of the toll lead protection takes on our muscles and bones… innovation is truly needed in this area.”
Gupta, Ankur Cath Lab Hazards: Combat Them With Knowledge
TCTMD/the heart beat November 2017
A March 2015 article in the American Journal of Cardiology establishes that the incidence of musculoskeletal pain is considerably higher among technicians and nurses than physicians. “Musculoskeletal pain varied significantly by job description, with the highest incidence reported by technicians (62%) and nurses (60%) followed by attending physicians (44%) and trainees (19%; p < 0.001).”
Orme, Nicholas et el Occupational Health Hazards of Working in the Interventional Laboratory: A Multisite Case Control Study of Physicians and Allied Staff
Am J Cardiol Volume 65, Issue 8, 3 March 2015