Bilateral peroneal nerve palsy following emergent stabilization of a pelvic ring injury.

External noninvasive compressive devices are becoming popular for emergent stabilization of pelvic ring disruptions. The ease of application utilizing available materials such as sheets, the noninvasive nature of such measures, and perceived absence of complications has made this a popular stabilization modality. The authors report a case of bilateral peroneal nerve palsy related to the use of external compressive wraps in a patient with pelvic ring injury.

Spirituality within the patient-surgeon relationship.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitudes of general and orthopaedic surgical outpatients regarding inquiry into their religious beliefs, spiritual practices, and personal faith. DESIGN: Prospective, voluntary, self-administered, and anonymously-completed questionnaire, regarding religious beliefs, spiritual practices, and personal faith, March-August, 2009. SETTING: General and orthopaedic surgical outpatient settings, Health Services Foundation, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, a tertiary care academic medical center in Mobile, Alabama. PARTICIPANTS: All patients referred for evaluation and management of general and orthopaedic surgical conditions, pre- and postoperatively, were approached. METHODOLOGY: The questionnaire solicited data regarding patient: (1) demographics; (2) religious beliefs, spiritual practices, and personal faith; and (3) opinions regarding inquiry into those subjects by their surgeon. The latter opinions were stratified on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Statistical analysis was conducted using software JMP(®) 8 Statistical Discovery Software (S.A.S. Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina) and a 5% probability level was used to determine significance of results. RESULTS: Eighty-three percent (83%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that surgeons should be aware of their patients' religiosity and spirituality; 63% concurred that surgeons should take a spiritual history; and 64% indicated that their trust in their surgeon would increase if they did so. Nevertheless, 17%, 37%, and 36% disagreed or strongly disagreed with those perspectives, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: By inference to the best explanation of the results, we would argue that religiosity and spirituality are inherent perspectives of patient-surgeon relationships. Consequently, those perspectives are germane to the therapeutic milieu. Therefore, discerning each patient's perspective in those regards is warranted in the context of an integrative and holistic patient-surgeon relationship, the intent of which is to restore a patient to health and well-being.