Factors that influence medical students' decision to pursue a career in orthopaedics: a comprehensive analysis.

PURPOSE: Selecting a postgraduate medical or surgical specialty is a significant decision for medical students, influenced by factors such as demographics, academic performance, satisfaction, work environments, personal aspirations, passion for a specific specialty, exposure to different fields during medical education, lifestyle considerations, financial factors, job market conditions, and prospects. Our research focused on orthopaedic surgery, a highly competitive specialty with many applicants and a low acceptance rate. We aimed to investigate the factors that contribute to the sustained interest in this specialty despite the challenges of securing a residency position. Hence, this study aims to examine the potential factors that influence students' decision to pursue a career as an orthopaedic surgeon. METHODS: This cross-sectional study explores the perspectives and attitudes of 211 fifth-year medical students towards orthopaedic surgery after completing their clinical rotation at Mutah University's School of Medicine in 2022. The inclusion criteria for the study were limited to fifth-year medical students who successfully finished the orthopaedic rotation. A questionnaire was employed to evaluate students' firm commitment to orthopaedics as a prospective career and the degree of their current interest in the specialty. RESULTS: The study involved 210 participants, with 99 selecting orthopaedics as their specialty and 111 pursuing alternatives. Furthermore, 41.4% expressed the intention to apply for orthopaedic residencies. Factors impacting orthopaedics selection included family/peer input (p = 0.002), prestige (p = 0.002), research prospects (p = 0.005), leadership potential (p = 0.011). Chi-square analysis showed associations between choosing orthopaedics and male gender (p = 0.028), parental occupation in musculoskeletal fields (p = 0.038), and elective rotations (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: This study examines the factors that influence medical students' career preferences in orthopaedic surgery, highlighting the significance of familial and peer influences, job prestige perceptions, gender considerations, parental involvement, elective rotations, research and teaching potential assessments, and aspirations for leadership roles. These findings reveal the complex array of factors that guide medical students toward orthopaedic surgery.

The Impact of Maternal Age and Educational Level on Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Diagnosis and Screening: A Descriptive Comparative Study.

Background: Early and proper screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is very critical to prevent catastrophic complication on the developing hip joint. Many factors (either maternal or child-related) that hinder timely DDH screening have been previously investigated. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted. 175 babies presented for DDH screening coming with their mothers were investigated. Maternal age, age group, and educational level were recorded. In addition, multiple child-related variables such as age of screening, gender, positive family history, preterm delivery, and mode of delivery were recorded as well. Analysis for association between delayed vs. early screening was made against the maternal and the child-related variables. Results: A total number of 175 children with their mothers were investigated. The mean maternal age was 27.9 years, about one third of the mothers had a graduate level of education (36.3%), while 41.1% had high school education, and 22.3% had middle school education. On the other hand, 40.0% of the investigated babies were first born and two thirds of our sample babies were females (66.9%). Of the included babies, 100 (57.1%) were screened at the appropriate 4-month age, while 75 (42.9%) missed the 4-month screening. Chi-square analysis showed that delayed DDH screening was associated with a lower maternal educational level (P ≤ 0.001), younger maternal age (P ≤ 0.001), and first born baby (P ≤ 0.001). Positive family history was protective against delayed DDH screening (P = 0.032). Conclusion: The lower maternal educational level, younger maternal age group, and first born babies are risk factors for delayed DDH screening.

Intraoperative blood loss and haemoglobin drop in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip in Jordan undergoing total hip arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: Developmental dysplasia of the hip is still a prevailing secondary cause of early hip osteoarthritis in Jordan. Dysplastic coxarthrosis can result in significant and disabling hip pain with impaired patient's functionality. Due to this significant morbidity, patients ultimately need total hip arthroplasty, which offers the best functional outcome. Significant anatomical aberrances do exist in such hips as a result of old dysplasia; such pathoanatomical changes can complicate an already difficult surgery and lead to significant intraoperative blood loss and haemoglobin drop postoperatively. So, the aim of this research was to investigate on the intraoperative blood loos, and postoperative haemoglobin drop in these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and 162 patients with advanced hip osteoarthrosis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) were studied. We studied predictors of hemoglobin drop and blood loss and linked some variables to this outcome variable using different statistical tests. RESULTS: Our results showed a positive correlation between blood loss and BMI (r = 0.27, p = 0.73), haemoglobin drop and duration of surgery (r = 0.14, p = 0.07), length of hospital stay and duration of surgery (r = 0.25, p = 0.001). No significant differences between outcome measures (blood loss, haemoglobin drop, and duration of surgery) between males and females (p = 0.38, 0.93, 0.77 respectively). However, there was a statistically significant differences in haemoglobin drop among patients underwent general versus spinal anaesthesia (p = 0.03). additionally, there was a statistically significant association in length of hospital stay among smokers (p = 0.03), and patients who didn't prescribed anxiolytic preoperatively (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Haemoglobin drop and blood loss in patients with dysplastic coxarthrosis were linked to increased preoperative BMI. Use of preoperative anxiolytics, and being non-smoker decreased the length of hospital stays. General anaesthesia was associated with more haemoglobin drop as well.

Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in Alkaptonuric Shoulder: Case Presentation, Review of Literature, and Technical Considerations.

Importance: Alkaptonuric shoulder arthropathy is a challenging clinical entity in arthroplasty. In this report, we describe an atypical presentation, technical considerations, a literature review, and some recommendations of significant benefits to shoulder surgeons. Objective: The author's objective in this report is to illustrate the deleterious metabolic effects of ochronosis on cartilage and the development of early arthritis. Design: This is a case report study, done in May 2021. Setting: Middle East, Jordan. Introduction: Alkaptonuria is a metabolic disease of amino acid metabolism that can affect multiple organ systems, including the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system manifestations usually involve the spine, knee, and, uncommonly, the shoulder. Tissue ochronosis caused by alkaptonuria can cause significant damage to the joint and surrounding soft tissue envelope. In this case, we presented a patient who has end-stage glenohumeral arthritis and rotator cuff arthropathy secondary to ochronosis. Case Presentation: In this case report, we present a 42-year-old male patient who presented to the clinic with severe right shoulder pain and limitations of the range of motion, especially with abduction. The patient underwent radiographic assessment, which showed a rotator cuff arthropathy combined with advanced degenerative changes of the right glenohumeral joint. The patient underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. After the surgery and on follow-up later on for a period of one year and after a period of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, the patient showed remarkable improvement in the pain and range of motion. Conclusion: Alkaptonuria can have a detrimental effect on the articular cartilage and the surrounding soft tissue envelope, which might manifest clinically as early degenerative arthritis changes in a young adult patient. Shoulder involvement is extremely rare and can manifest with substantial injury to the glenohumeral joint; whenever such extensive damage is present, shoulder arthroplasty is the best treatment.

Clinical Reproducibility and Reliability of Lever Sign (Lelli's) Test for Acute ACL Tear Performed by Medical Students.

Background: Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in sports are frequent in children and young adults participating in sporting activities involving rotational and pivoting movements. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most accurate diagnostic tool to detect an ACL tear. There are, however, a number of specialized tests available to assess ACL competency. Hypothesis: A novel test was described with extremely high clinical accuracy. The purpose of this study was to assess its clinical accuracy when performed by non-orthopedic providers, such as medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted, and two patients with an MRI-proven complete ACL tear were selected. One patient was thin, and the other was overweight, and both were examined by 100 medical students for both the injured and uninjured knee. The results for these exams were recorded, and a statistical analysis of the screening test was done to evaluate the new special test. Results: Our results were different from the ones found in the literature: we found the test to have a significantly lower performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios compared to the literature numbers. Conclusion: The Lever sign (Lelli's) test loses clinical credibility and significance when performed by non-orthopedic providers or doctors, such as medical students in our study.