Research activities and critical appraisal skills among Saudi orthopedic residents.

BACKGROUND: Medical research is a central part of any residency training. In view of the new Saudi orthopedic committee promotion regulation that mandates each resident to participate in a research project, the challenges that stand in the way of completion of substantial research within surgical residency must be investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the practice, attitudes, perception, and limitations associated with research among residents in the Saudi orthopedic program in the central region. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2020 using an online-based survey. The total number of study participants was 128 orthopedic residents out of the 191 residents enrolled in the central region program. Data were analyzed, and descriptive statistics in the form of frequency and percentage were determined, analytical tests were performed with P < 0.05 being statistically significant. RESULTS: Most residents (95 %) participated in a research project during residency. Most projects (53.10 %) were case reports followed by retrospective studies (48.40 %). The majority (79.70 %) did not attend a research methods course during residency. Experience in research differed significantly (P < 0.05) by age, residency year, and center. The mean involvement score was significantly higher among males at 3 (± 1) than among females at 2 (± 0) (P < 0.001). Only 40.60 % have access to orthopedic journals, and the same percentage (40.60 %) knew how to Critique original articles. There was a statistically significant difference in the accessibility score according to the training center. Lack of faculty support and mentorship were the main barriers to medical research at 62.50 and 39.10 %, respectively. A total of 68.80 % reported that funding was not available through their institutes. CONCLUSIONS: In Saudi Arabia, the level of meaningful clinical research and publications by orthopedic residents is still low. The results of this study should be taken into consideration before the implementation of the new promotion criteria in the centers under the umbrella of Saudi orthopedic committee.

Using an Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) in Revising Failed Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) With Exchange of Cage.

Minimally invasive techniques have gained popularity in spine surgery in recent years. Extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF) is one of these techniques. The rapid increase in the use of this approach in either primary or revision surgeries is related to its several advantages including less operative time, less blood loss and reduced length of hospital stay with fast recovery. We report a case of a failed transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) in L4-L5 level, one year after the primary procedure with persistent pain due to failed fusion. Underwent revision, by using XLIF with the removal of old cage and exchange with new large cage. Revision of failed interbody fusion can be achieved through anterior, posterior or lateral approach. The decision to proceed with either method depends on several factors, including previous surgeries, fibrosis and risk of neurovascular injury and surgeon's preference. XLIF approach should be considered in revision surgeries of failed interbody fusion. As it can provide several advantages compared to anterior or posterior approaches, in terms of better fusion rates and lower risk of neurovascular injuries by avoiding the use of the previous passage.

Principles of bone and tissue banking in Saudi Arabia: 10-year experience report.

BACKGROUND: The role of bone and tissue banking is well known to meet the ever-growing need of bone and soft tissue allografts. Strict guidelines have been established to ensure high standard and minimize complications related to bone transplantation. METHODS: The Bone Bank in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), affiliated with the Saudi Council of Organ Transplantation, was inaugurated in 2010, and it has since been an integral part of the KFSH&RC organ retrieval team. The bank has a very strict regulations which were described. RESULTS: Between January 2010 and January 2020, there were 143 multi-organ donors (mean age: 36 years, range: 24-55 years). The total number of allografts used was 2191 which were utilized in 1047 patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, we present our 10-year experience of administrative structure, donor and recipient testing protocols, allograft retrieval, processing procedures, and the internal audit safety arrangements. The utilization of allografts in various pathologies such as revision joint replacement, spine surgery, and tumor surgery is discussed with our results over a 10-year period.

Cell salvage within adult and pediatric idiopathic scoliosis surgery: A random cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the use of a cell savage and its impact on the amount of allogenic blood transfused to the patients during idiopathic scoliosis surgery. METHODS: A total of 142 randomly selected patients with scoliosis had been included in this study. The adult group consisted of 78 patients, and the pediatric group, 64 patients. Both groups were divided into subgroups (pre-cell saver era and cell saver era). Data on the following parameters were collected: amount of blood transfused intraoperatively, within 24 h postoperatively, and overall. The number of patients who received transfusion was counted as the number of patients who avoided any transfusion. For statistical purposes, we performed unpaired student t-test, chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in adult groups perioperatively. In the pediatric group, there was a statistically significant difference intraoperatively. Economic analysis of blood management showed positive numbers for both groups, where more than 1 unit of blood was transfused. CONCLUSIONS: Statistical analysis showed the cost-effectiveness of the perioperative use of cell salvage during pediatric scoliosis surgery. Overall, the use of cell salvage during scoliosis surgery had a positive impact on both blood management and patient recovery.

Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Complications.

Despite the fact that spinal surgeries for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) result in good outcomes for most patients, they are not without complications either medically or surgically. Neurologic injury represents the most severe complication and is, as such, the most feared. Further complications include dural tears, peripheral neuropathy, surgical-site infections, implant-related issues, thromboembolic events, visual loss, pseudarthrosis, Crankshaft phenomenon, flatback phenomenon, proximal junctional kyphosis, and mortality. It is vital that all spine surgeons to be fully conversant with the possible complications and the proper responses for each of them.