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Imaging services at the Paralympic Games London 2012: analysis of demand and distribution of workload
  1. Sarath Bethapudi1,2,
  2. Robert S D Campbell3,
  3. Richard Budgett4,5,6,
  4. Stuart E Willick7,8,
  5. Peter Van de Vliet9,10
  1. 1British Society of Skeletal Radiology (BSSR)/Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) 2012 Fellow, London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games, London, UK
  2. 2County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation trust, Durham, UK
  3. 3Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK
  4. 4London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, London, UK
  5. 5English Institute of Sports, Bisham Abbey, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, UK
  6. 6International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical Commission, Lausanne, Switzerland
  7. 7Member of Medical Committee, International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Bonn, Germany
  8. 8Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Utah Medical School, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  9. 9Medical and Scientific Department, IPC, Bonn, Germany
  10. 10Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, Health, Leisure and Human Performance Research Institute, University of Manitoba, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr Robert SD Campbell, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool L7 8XP, UK; rob.campbell{at}rlbuht.nhs.uk

Abstract

Background Very little data have been published on medical imaging services at disability games. 7.9 million euros (£6.6 million, US$11 million) were invested in setting up radiology facilities within purpose built polyclinics at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. This paper details imaging services at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Data analysis on imaging at 2012 Olympics has been published in a separate paper.

Aim To analyse the workload on the polyclinics’ radiology services, provided for the Paralympic athletes during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Method Data were prospectively collected during the period of the Paralympic games from the Picture Archive Communications System (PACS) and the Radiological Information System (RIS). Data were correlated with the medical encounter database (ATOS).

Results 655 imaging episodes were recorded, which comprised 38.8% (n=254) MRI, 33% (n=216) plain radiographs, 24% (n=157) ultrasound scans and 4.2% (n=28) CT scans. Investigations on the Paralympic athletes accounted for 65.2% of workload, with the remainder divided between Paralympic family and workforce.

Conclusions MRI was the most used imaging resource and CT was the least used imaging modality at the Paralympic village polyclinic. Analysis of demographic data provides a useful index for planning radiology infrastructure and manpower at future international competitions for athletes with a disability.

  • MRI
  • Ultrasound
  • Sporting Injuries
  • Epidemiology

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