Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding infection control measures among dental students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Among health care professionals, dentists are more prone to infection due to their direct contact with blood and saliva. This study highlights the level of compliance with infection control measures among dental students; and linked this to their knowledge and attitudes regarding infection control measures and proper vaccinations. The study is a multi-centre analytical cross-sectional survey. The sample size was 969 clinical years' students from governmental and private dental colleges in Sudan and Saudi Arabia. A pre-coded, pre-tested, and anonymous questionnaire consisted of seven categories of knowledge, attitude, awareness, and practices, including 40 questions, was answered. The study has linked knowledge, attitude, and practice in dental clinics with possible COVID-19 transmission in dental clinics. The results showed that the use of some Personal Protective Equipment was low in Sudan and moderate in Saudi Arabia (statistically significant, p < 0.001). Moderate percentage of Hepatitis B vaccination status, with low percentage of Post HBV serology, was reported (p < 0.001). The percentages of major causes of percutaneous and/or eye exposure/injury, for examples, were as follows: anesthesia (33.3-62.7%, p 0.006) and suture needle (17.5-39.4%, p 0.037). In conclusion, dental students in the present study had good knowledge and positive attitudes regarding infection control in general, but showed moderate compliance with the recommended infection control guidelines.

Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy: outcome and complications in 270 cases.

BACKGROUND: The endoscopic approach was introduced in the clinical practice in 1980 with the aim to remove the prolapsed disk and free the compressed nerve using the least disruptive surgical technique, assuring in the same time, the resolution of the symptoms and a faster return back to normal life activity. Over the years, thanks to an extraordinary technical improvement either in terms of quality of images or development of many different tailored instrumentations there has been a huge spreading of the endoscope use across the different surgical fields. For this reason, the transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy can be considered, at the moment, the least invasive procedure for the removal of lumbar disc prolapsed. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcome and complications rate on a large cumulative series operated on in two years period. METHODS: We presented a retrospective series involving 270 cases of lumbar disk herniation managed surgically only by a percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic technique in two units and by two surgeons. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Primary study end points were evaluation of outcomes using the visual analogue scale and Oswestri Disability Index preoperatively and at 3, 6 and 12 months as well as the complications and the recurrence rates. RESULTS: Our results, with a positive outcome around 93%, confirmed the effectiveness of transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation when compare to open microdiscectomy. Also, the complications (5.5%) and the recurrence rate (4.1%) could be considered within the standard results. CONCLUSIONS: The transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective procedure to treat lumbar disc prolapsed. Surgical experience and correct patients' selection are crucial factors affecting the outcome.

Purely Endoscopic Resection of Cavernoma of the Septum Pellucidum.

The intraventricular location of a cavernoma is a rare entity and accounts for approximately 2.5% of all cavernomas of the central nervous system. They are commonly found in the lateral ventricle followed by the third and fourth ventricles. The location in the septum pellucidum is rare, and only four cases have been reported in the international literature. An open craniotomy was performed in all these cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a cavernoma of the septum pellucidum successfully resected using a purely endoscopic transventricular approach.

Relationship between Obesity and Periodontal Diseases in Saudi Women (Asir Region): A Prospective Study.

AIM: The present study is undertaken to assess any possible association between obesity and periodontal diseases among Saudi women in Asir region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total number of 100 obese subjects in the age group between 16 and 35 years participated in the study. A questionnaire which consisted of anthropometric measurements [neck circumference (NC) ≥ 34 cm for women] and demographic features was used. Periodontal status was assessed for the subjects. RESULTS: The periodontal disease shows significant association with anthropometric measurements (NC ≥ 34 cm for women) and demographic features. CONCLUSION: The findings of this prospective study showed possible relationship between obesity and periodontal disease. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In view of changing lifestyle with dietary habits, there is a possibility of developing obesity. The results in this research show a direct relationship between obesity and periodontal diseases by measuring body mass index (BMI) and NC in the age group of 16 to 35 years females in Saudi Arabia. Thus, it helps in preventing and managing obesity, especially among youth.

Type II Fractures in Older Adults: Can They Be Treated Conservatively?: A Single-Center Experience and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Odontoid fractures are the most common acute cervical spinal fractures in the geriatric population. Their rate is increasing along with the rising age of the elderly population. Whereas conservative management with external immobilization is reported as the treatment of choice for type I and III odontoid fractures, there are no clear indications concerning the best treatment for type II fractures. In younger patients surgical management is considered the best choice, but in older adults the rate of good outcomes worsens and operative risk because of comorbidities increases. METHODS: We report our retrospective single-center experience with conservative treatment of type II odontoid fractures in an elderly population, focusing on both radiologic and functional outcomes to compare our results with the recent literature. RESULTS: Among the 21 selected subjects with a minimum follow-up of 18 months, 19 (90.5%) showed a satisfactory clinical outcome, with an adequate bony healing in 10 cases and nonsymptomatic pseudarthrosis in 9 patients. All these patients were satisfied with the conservative results and could stop use of the collar. Two patients (9.5%) did not show any improvement and had to keep the collar indefinitely. CONCLUSIONS: Our study was limited because it was a retrospective review, with a limited number of patients. Nevertheless, the clinical and radiologic outcomes of our patients differ from the results of other studies, suggesting that conservative management of these fractures in this population does not necessarily lead to a bad clinical outcome or delayed surgery.

Effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous abdominal preservation of autologous bone flap after decompressive craniectomy: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of reconstructing a cranial bone defect after decompressive craniectomy using an autologous bone flap banked in a subcutaneous pocket in the patient's abdominal wall. METHODS: A prospective pilot study was performed on 12 of 15 consecutive patients who had undergone decompressive craniotomy and subsequent autologous bone flap replacement. The bone flap had been stored in the abdominal wall for an average period of 40 days. To assess the safety of this method, we evaluated the infections rate and the need for a surgical revision. Efficacy was evaluated under different points of view: 1) clinical standpoint, as the cosmetic reconstructive result at 6 months after the replacement; 2) imaging point of view, as the extent of residual bony gap detectable on a three-dimensional computed tomography scan as well as the extent of the bone flap revascularization, detected with a three-phase technetium bone scan. All the bone flaps were evaluated to assess their viability by histological investigations. RESULTS: There was no bone flap infection. The only significant complication encountered in two cases was the formation of a collection under the bone flap, which required its removal. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary and limited experience has led us to believe that the subcutaneous preservation of autologous bone flap is feasible. This method may be a very inexpensive option that preserves the viability of the bone flap, which can be ultimately responsible for the good cosmetic results and the very low infection rate.