What is it about?
We surveyed the gender of male physicians' children at five Japanese hospitals and compared them by the department. We found that orthopedic and spine surgeons had more daughters (19 daughters compared to 8 sons). Physicians in other departments, conversely, had slightly more sons.
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Why is it important?
Orthopedic and spine surgeons frequently use radiation during surgery and treatment. Exposure to the testes may have reduced the male proportion of their children. In this case, the surgeons are exposed to more than just the testes, increasing the risk of future health problems such as cataracts or skin cancer.
Perspectives
This is a small study, but fortunately, it has received a great response in orthopedics. I would be happy if the results of this study were disseminated and as many healthcare professionals as possible became interested in radiation exposure and its protection. This study has led to more extensive academic surveys and research, so please look forward to further reports.
Yasukazu Hijikata
Kyoto Daigaku
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Association between occupational testicular radiation exposure and lower male sex ratio of offspring among orthopedic surgeons, PLoS ONE, December 2021, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262089.
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