“What are safe radiation levels for children?”

The radiation dose for an ankle X-ray is quite small and very safe. Ask the radiology facility if it is using ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) in their imaging protocols and whether it has specific imaging protocols for children.

The risk-benefit factor rules in favor of having the X-ray. The amount of radiation is minimal and there is no proven risk of such low dose of radiation. In fact, there is evidence to support a little radiation is good. A chest X-ray gives as much radiation as a flight from Chicago to Denver.

Depends on where you are having it done. I would avoid having an X-ray done in a doctor’s office or Chiropracter’s office. Hospitals or imaging centers are better choices. They are more regulated than a small office and must adhere to strict safety guidelines. Offices are supposed to but the oversight may be lax.

No dose of radiation is considered “safe” since we don’t ever know which interaction will damage a cell irreparably. However, we live on planet earth and are bombarded by radiation from the sun daily. Do you fly in airplanes? You can get the equivalent dose to a chest X-ray every time you fly a few hours. Will you get cancer from it? Probably not. But no one can say for sure.

The dose of radiation to the ankle will be minimal. Not something to worry about if there is appropriate benefit of gaining medical information. However, if you are looking for soft tissue injury, an X-ray radiograph cannot tell you much in that regard. It is excellent for evaluating bones and seeing fractures. For soft tissue pathology MRI is far better. I hope that helps.