Efficacy of Continuous Lumbar Plexus Blockade in Managing Post-Operative Pain after Hip or Femur Orthopedic Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Post-operative pain management is essential for optimizing recovery, patient comfort, and satisfaction. Peripheral nerve blockade, or lumbar plexus block (LPB), has been widely used for analgesia and regional anesthesia. This study explored the existing literature to determine the efficacy of continuous lumbar plexus blockade in managing post-operative pain following hip or femur surgery. Methods: Reviewers comprehensively searched electronic databases to identify peer-reviewed scholarly articles reporting the efficacy of lumbar plexus block in managing post-operative pain after orthopedic surgery. The potential articles were carefully selected and assessed for the risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias assessment tool. Data were systematically extracted and analyzed. Results: The literature search yielded 206 articles, 20 of which were randomized controlled trials. Lumbar plexus block demonstrated superior pain relief compared to conventional pain management approaches like general anesthetics. In addition, LPB reduced patients' overall opioid consumption compared to controls, reduced adverse effects, and enhanced functional recovery, which underlines the broader positive impact of meticulous pain management. More patients could walk more than 40 feet after the second day post-operatively among the lumbar plexus group (14.7%) compared to the continuous femoral group (1.3%). Other parameters, including cortisol levels and hemodynamic stability, were evaluated, showing comparable outcomes. Conclusions: Lumbar plexus block is effective in pain management after orthopedic surgery, as shown by the lower pain scores and less opioid consumption. Additionally, patient satisfaction was relatively higher in LPB-treated patients compared to other approaches like general anesthesia.

Assessment of Saudi Society's Knowledge Regarding Hypothyroidism and Its Neuropsychiatric Clinical Manifestations.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of hypothyroidism and its neuropsychiatric clinical manifestations among the Saudi population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study employing a convenient sampling technique, conducted between February and May 2022. A questionnaire was distributed online to all participants in all five regions. Results: In this survey, a total of 2016 Saudi citizens participated. When asked about depression, more than half of the participants (59.6%) correctly identified depression as one of the neuropsychiatric clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism. Nearly half of the participants (47.5%) were unaware that anxiety was not a neuropsychiatric manifestation of hypothyroidism. With a percentage of 91.0%, the majority of participants exhibited poor knowledge. The regression analysis showed that males have significantly reduced knowledge about hypothyroidism than females (coefficient −3.686, p-value < 0.0001). Similarly, those who have "enough income and can save" were more knowledgeable than others (coefficient 0.731, p-value < 0.02). Regarding the source of information, journals provide three times more information (p-value 0.0001), and healthcare practitioners provides four times more information as compared to family and friends (p-value 0.0001). Conclusion: Due to a lack of knowledge about hypothyroidism and its complications, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment, the most viable solution to these misconceptions would be to implement a variety of educational programs to increase public awareness of this issue.

Use, Misuse, and Complications of Contact Lens Among the General Population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: This study aims to assess contact lens usage patterns, complications, knowledge levels, and the impact of psychological factors on misuse among the Saudi population. METHODS: In this study, we distributed our questionnaire through multiple social media platforms among patients who are using cosmetic or medical contact lenses regardless of the purpose of wearing them. A total of 1,708 contact lens users participated. RESULTS: Most participants were female (86.4%) and aged 21-40 years (65.7%). The purpose for usage was cosmetic (36.1%) or medical (28.7%), with some using them for both purposes (35.1%). Complications have been faced, with 26.3% experiencing issues due to lens usage, 56.8% facing visual problems, and 45.8% sometimes feeling discomfort with contact lens usage. Allergic reactions were reported by 35.2%. Higher knowledge levels were associated with participants aged 21-40 years (p = 0.009), irregular ophthalmologist visits (p = 0.032), and cosmetic use (p = 0.027). Better practice patterns were observed among urban residents (p = 0.049), higher-income earners (p = 0.002), cosmetic users (p < 0.001), and those with fewer complications (p < 0.001). Psychological factors significantly influenced misuse, with 15.4% of participants indicating its impact. Notably, a subset of these participants (16.2%) perceived prolonged wear of contact lenses as a manifestation of personal insecurity. CONCLUSIONS: Several sociodemographic factors, including place of residence, income, and difficulty, influence the use of contact lenses. It is also necessary to consider psychological issues such as low self-esteem and social acceptance while encouraging the safe use of contact lenses.

The Level of Awareness of Keratoconus Among the General Population in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia.

Background Keratoconus (KC) is a non-inflammatory corneal disease with an early onset in adulthood, leading to a reduction in visual acuity. This study aims to evaluate the level of awareness of keratoconus among the general population in the Hail region of Saudi Arabia. Methodology Data were collected through a pre-designed and pre-validated online questionnaire (Appendix) distributed via social media platforms. The questionnaire was divided into two sections. The first section included demographic profiles, while the second section inquired about knowledge and awareness regarding Keratoconus. The collected data was reviewed, coded, and inputted into IBM Corp. Released 2013. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp. Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson Chi-Square test, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results The total number of respondents was 550, among whom 40% were males and 60% were females. 79.6% of the participants were in the age range of 18-30 years. The level of education and a positive family history of KC showed significant associations with the level of knowledge about KC (p<0.05). The age group had a non-significant association (p=0.059), while gender had a significant association with the level of knowledge about keratoconus (p<0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, the overall awareness regarding KC progression, interventions, and the consequences of eye rubbing was limited among the participants. Specific efforts are crucial to enhance public awareness and understanding of KC, ensuring a more informed and proactive approach to eye health within the community.