Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Saudi orthopedic surgeons: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have addressed the issue of increasing prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) pain among different occupations. However, contributing factors to MSK pain have not been fully investigated among orthopaedic surgeons. Thus, this study aimed to approximate the prevalence and predictors of MSK pain among Saudi orthopaedic surgeons working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using an electronic survey was conducted in Riyadh. The questionnaire was distributed through email among orthopaedic surgeons in Riyadh hospitals. Standardized Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms were used. Descriptive measures for categorical and numerical variables were presented. Student's t-test and Pearson's χ2 test were used. The level of statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: The response rate was 80.3%, with a total number of 179 of Saudi orthopaedic surgeons (173 males and six females). Of our sample, 67.0% of the respondents complained of having MSK pain. The most commonly reported MSK pain was lower back (74.0%), followed by neck (58.2%). Age and body mass index were implicated in the development of more than one type of MSK pain. Increased years of experience (≥ 6 years) was linked to shoulder/elbow, lower back, and hip/thigh pain. Smoking is widely associated with lower back pain development, whereas physicians who do not smoke and exercise regularly reported fewer pain incidences. Excessive bending and twisting during daily practice have been correlated with increased neck pain. CONCLUSION: MSK pain was found to be common among Saudi orthopaedic surgeons. Further extensive research should be conducted to understand and analyze the risk factors involved and search for possible improvements to avoid further complications. However, ergonomics education during surgical training could be effective at modifying behaviors and reducing MSK pain manifestations.

Prevalence and perceptions of e-cigarette use among medical students in a Saudi University.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: We hypothesized that the prevalence of electronic cigarette vaping among the medical student population is on the rise. Our aims were to assess the prevalence of electronic cigarette vaping among medical students in Saudi Arabia, to understand and analyze the reasons that led them to try it, and to investigate students' perceptions towards electronic cigarette vaping. METHODS: An anonymous, paper-based, cross-sectional questionnaire was distributed amongst 401 undergraduate medical students from years 1-5 at Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prevalence, intensity of e-cigarette use and reasons for it, relation of electronic cigarettes to cessation of tobacco smoking, and side effects were studied. RESULTS: The prevalence of vaping was 49/401 (12.2%). There was a strong association between gender and vaping, with males being 3 times more likely to vape compared to females (χ2 (1) =13.62, P <.001). The three most common reasons for using electronic cigarettes were to enjoy the variability in flavours (61.4%, n = 30), to reduce or quit tobacco cigarettes (29.5%, n = 14), and to avert the public smoking ban (13.6%, n = 7). The three most common side effects experienced by users were coughing (26.7%, n = 13), dry mouth/throat (24.4%, n = 12), and dizziness (20%, n = 10). CONCLUSION: Use of the electronic cigarettes is not uncommon amongst medical students, mostly due to their appealing flavor variability. Further research is required to define long-term safety and side effect profiles, and to generate evidence-based guidelines concerning e-cigarette safety and efficacy for smoking cessation.

Phenotypic delineation of the retinal arterial macroaneurysms with supravalvular pulmonic stenosis syndrome.

Retinal arterial macroaneurysms with supravalvular pulmonic stenosis (RAMSVPS), also known as Familial Retinal Arterial Macroaneurysms (FRAM) syndrome, is a very rare multisystem disorder. Here, we present a case series comprising ophthalmologic and systemic evaluation of patients homozygous for RAMSVPS syndrome causative IGFBP7 variant. New clinical details on 22 previously published and 8 previously unpublished patients are described. Age at first presentation ranged from 1 to 34 years. The classical feature of macroaneurysms and vascular beading involving the retinal arteries was universal. Follow up extending up to 14 years after initial diagnosis revealed recurrent episodes of bleeding and leakage from macroaneurysms in 55% and 59% of patients, respectively. The majority of patients who underwent echocardiography (18/23) showed evidence of heart involvement, most characteristically pulmonary (valvular or supravalvular) stenosis, often requiring surgical correction (12/18). Four patients died in the course of the study from complications of pulmonary stenosis, cerebral hemorrhage, and cardiac complications. Liver involvement (usually cirrhosis) was observed in eight patients. Cerebral vascular involvement was observed in one patient, and stroke was observed in two. We conclude that RAMSVPS is a recognizable syndrome characterized by a high burden of ocular and systemic morbidity, and risk of premature death. Recommendations are proposed for early detection and management of these complications.

Pulmonary and Paradoxical Embolism after Slow Pathway Ablation: A Thrombotic Disorder Unmasked by a Rare Complication.

Cardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) and catheter ablation procedure are established diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for cardiac arrhythmias. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a relatively rare but potentially fatal complication of Cardiac electrophysiology study (EPS). The paradoxical embolism (PDE) occurs due to an intracardiac defect with a right to left shunt with patent foramen ovale (PFO) being the most common cause. The simultaneous occurrence of PE and PDE is rare. Here we present a case of PE and PDE after EPS and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of the slow pathway in a patient with recurrent supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) due to atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). To our knowledge, such a case of PE and PDE has not been reported after SVT ablation.