Adaption and Usability of Telemedicine in Orthopedic Surgery in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Telemedicine has proven beneficial in improving patient satisfaction and access to care and reducing health care costs. The effectiveness of telemedicine in orthopedic surgery has been reported. However, data on its use in Saudi Arabia are scarce. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of telemedicine in orthopedic surgery in Saudi Arabia to better understand its integration and efficiency in this field. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between August and December 2022 to evaluate the knowledge and practice of telemedicine among orthopedic board-certified physicians in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a valid, structured, self-administered questionnaire distributed online via Google Forms. Results: A total of 111 orthopedic surgeons were included in this study. Most of the participants were males (95.5%), consultants (39.6%), and working in the central region (55.8%). Approximately 44.1% of the physicians used telemedicine before the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, while 94% used it during the pandemic. More than half of the physicians reported easy access to telemedicine. However, most of the physicians reported that they were not satisfied with conducting virtual physical examinations for new, follow-up, and postoperative patients and were mostly satisfied with taking the virtual history. Conclusion: This study suggests that telemedicine is highly adopted for follow-up care and postoperative management in orthopedics, with high satisfaction rates among surgeons.

Neuro-Ophthalmic Complications of COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the identification of new disease phenotypes associated with infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This includes multiple neuro-ophthalmological sequelae, which have been associated with COVID-19 infection and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. Some of these associations have a plausible pathophysiological link to the infection or vaccination but true causation has yet to be established. We review the literature for associations reported between COVID-19 infection or vaccination and neuro-ophthalmic sequelae and review the potential pathophysiological processes that may underlie these associations.

Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women's Attitudes and Fears Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: Contracting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of severe maternal and fetal complications. Mass vaccination is considered a promising solution to successfully combat the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes vaccinating of pregnant and breastfeeding women. The success of a vaccine is determined not only by its efficacy, but also by its acceptability. Therefore, our study aimed to explore the acceptability and reluctance of pregnant and breastfeeding women to receive COVID-19 vaccination in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia from March 2022-beginning to June 2022-end. Using an online self-administered questionnaire with a convenience sampling technique, we assessed women for pregnancy, gravidity, parity, high-risk pregnancy, trimester of pregnancy, and current or planned breastfeeding. Furthermore, we assessed patients with preexisting chronic illnesses. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic data and items drawn from Goncu Ayhan et al, including vaccination history, perception of risk related to the COVID-19 pandemic, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and acceptance and attitude toward future COVID-19 vaccination. Results: A total of 854 women (615 pregnant and 192 breastfeeding women) were included. Predictors of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance were found in women with a high level of education, those who lived with an elderly family member, and had close contact with a COVID-19-positive person. The reasons for declining vaccination included COVID-19 diagnosis during pregnancy and concerns about side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 503 (58.9%) women believed that COVID-19 vaccines had the potential to harm their babies. Only 415 (48.6%) agreed they would take the COVID-19 vaccine if it were recommended for pregnant women. Conclusion: Pregnant and breastfeeding women fear COVID-19 vaccination due to safety concerns for their babies. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance varies among pregnant and breastfeeding women, regardless of whether they receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Our study underlines the importance of public education campaigns to improve the overall quality of information on COVID-19 vaccination, particularly among pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Chronic Distal Biceps Tendon Rupture With Allograft Reconstruction.

Rupture of the distal biceps tendon typically occurs after an eccentric extension load is applied to the elbow. Chronic distal biceps ruptures are uncommon and are complicated by tendon, muscle retraction, and tissue atrophy. Here, we present the case of a 26-year-old male soldier. The patient was a smoker on steroids and growth hormones. He had a distal biceps tendon rupture for two months following weightlifting. He had a positive hook test, and the tendon could not be palpated in his antecubital fossa. Despite trying conservative treatment earlier, he complained of weakness and was unhappy with the cosmetic appearance of his arm. He underwent a successful distal biceps tendon reconstruction with an allograft. At the three-month follow-up after the surgery, the patient reported a full range of motion and strength and was able to return to his daily life activities. In addition, the aesthetic appearance of the biceps muscle was restored.

Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Quarantine on the Severity of Headache, Migraine, and Stress in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 quarantine on the severity of migraine symptoms and stress among adults in Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2020 and February 2021, 1212 participants aged 18-65 years completed an online self-administered questionnaire that covered sociodemographic data, self-administered questions, the ID migraine screener, numeric pain rating scale, and the perceived stress scale. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Student's t-test, paired t-test, and analysis of variance were used to compare quantitative variables, while the chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. RESULTS: After removing ineligible and incomplete responses, we analyzed data obtained from 1111 participants. The mean age of the participants was approximately 29 years old (± 11.2 years); moreover, 87% were females. Headache severity during the COVID-19 quarantine was significantly lower than that during the last 3 months, with a difference of only 0.41 on the 1-10 pain severity scale. There was a significantly increased stress prevalence during the COVID-19 quarantine. During the COVID-19 quarantine, 49%, 56%, and 62% of patients without migraine, patients with possible migraine, and patients with diagnosed migraine, respectively, reported worsening of their perceived stress. There was a weak positive correlation between the severity of migraine symptoms and stress during COVID-19 quarantine. Moreover, headache severity was positively affected by the history of COVID-19 infections. CONCLUSION: The headache severity in patients with migraine decreased during COVID-19 quarantine compared with that during the last 3 months. Additionally, patients with diagnosed migraine had significantly higher scores on the perceived stress scale than patients without migraine.

Spirometric values and chest pain intensity three days post-operative coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

AIM: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is proved to have ventilatory complications and reduction in spirometric values. This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that reduction of post-operative chest pain intensity would be associated with improvement in the spirometric values for patient underwent CABG. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 26 cardiac patients recruited for this study. Their convenience to the study inclusion criteria decided their eligibility. Through 3 days after elective CABG their spirometric values were measured along with their perception to chest pain intensity using 0-10 numeric rating scale. Collected data were recorded and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Chest pain intensity showed progressive significant (P = 0.0001) reduction through the 3 days post-operative. On the other hand spirometric values also showed progressive improvement through the 3 days post-operative. This improvement was significant for all measured spirometric values except for the ratio of forced expiratory volume in the 1st second to the forced vital capacity (P = 0.134). There was no significant relationship between the chest pain intensity and spirometric values. This was applied to all measured spirometric values and to the 3 days postoperative. CONCLUSION: The current study findings rejected the examined hypothesis that reduction of post-operative chest pain intensity would be associated with improvement in the spirometric values for patient underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery. There was no significant relationship between the chest pain intensity and any of the spirometric values at any of the 3 post-operative days.