Your answer:
Consult with a health physicist and determine the remaining
activity of the contamination. Delay closure (approx 6 hours)
until results are calculated.
The health physicist states that based on the isotopes and the remaining activity, the hand would receive an additional 15 R of exposure over the lifetime of the patient. Discussion with the patient and the health physicist reveals that this is an acceptable exposure. There is no potential short or long term effects expected by leaving the contamination in place and closing the wound. The patient prefers leaving the remaining activity in his hand over the possibility of further surgery which may cause functional loss. The wound is sutured and the patient leaves, confident that he has received the best possible care.