Prevalence and associated factors of clubfoot in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia: A hospital-based study

BACKGROUND Clubfoot,or congenital talipes equinovarus,is a widely recognized cause of disability and congenital deformity worldwide,which significantly impacts the quality of life.Effective management of clubfoot requires long-term,multidiscip-linary intervention.It is important to understand how common this condition is in order to assess its impact on the population.Unfortunately,few studies have investigated the prevalence of clubfoot in Saudi Arabia.AIM To determine the prevalence of clubfoot in Saudi Arabia via the patient population at King Fahad University Hospital(KFUH).METHODS This was a retrospective study conducted at one of the largest hospitals in the country and located in one of the most densely populated of the administrative regions.RESULTS Of the 7792 births between 2015 to 2023 that were included in the analysis,42 patients were diagnosed with clubfoot,resulting in a prevalence of 5.3 per 1000 live births at KFUH.CONCLUSION The observed prevalence of clubfoot was significantly higher than both global and local estimates,indicating a substantial burden in the study population.

Artificial intelligence awareness and perceptions among pediatric orthopedic surgeons:A cross-sectional observational study

BACKGROUND Artificial intelligence(AI)is a branch of computer science that allows machines to analyze large datasets,learn from patterns,and perform tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence and supervision.It is an emerging tool in pediatric orthopedic surgery,with various promising applications.An evaluation of the current awareness and perceptions among pediatric orthopedic surgeons is necessary to facilitate AI utilization and highlight possible areas of concern.AIM To assess the awareness and perceptions of AI among pediatric orthopedic surgeons.METHODS This cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a structured questionnaire designed using QuestionPro online survey software to collect quantitative and qualitative data.One hundred and twenty-eight pediatric orthopedic surgeons affiliated with two groups:Pediatric Orthopedic Chapter of Saudi Orthopedics Association and Middle East Pediatric Orthopedic Society in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries were surveyed.RESULTS The pediatric orthopedic surgeons surveyed had a low level of familiarity with AI,with more than 60%of respondents rating themselves as being slightly familiar or not at all familiar.The most positively rated aspect of AI applications for pediatric orthopedic surgery was their ability to save time and enhance productivity,with 61.97%agreeing or strongly agreeing,and only 4.23%disagreeing or strongly disagreeing.Our participants also placed a high priority on patient privacy and data security,with over 90%rating them as quite important or highly important.Additional bivariate analyses suggested that physicians with a higher awareness of AI also have a more positive perception.CONCLUSION Our study highlights a lack of familiarity among pediatric orthopedic surgeons towards AI,and suggests a need for enhanced education and regulatory frameworks to ensure the safe adoption of AI.

Burden of routine orthopedic implant removal a single center retrospective study

BACKGROUND Open reduction and internal fixation represent prevalent orthopedic procedures,sparking ongoing discourse over whether to retain or remove asymptomatic implants.Achieving consensus on this matter is paramount for orthopedic surgeons.This study aims to quantify the impact of routine implant removal on patients and healthcare facilities.A retrospective analysis of implant removal cases from 2016 to 2022 at King Fahad Hospital of the University(KFHU)was conducted and subjected to statistical scrutiny.Among these cases,44%necessitated hospitalization exceeding one day,while 56%required only a single day.Adults exhibited a 55%need for extended hospital stays,contrasting with 22.8%among the pediatric cohort.The complication rate was 6%,with all patients experiencing at least one complication.Notably,34.1%required sick leave and 4.8%exceeded 14 d.General anesthesia was predominant(88%).Routine implant removal introduces unwarranted complications,particularly in adults,potentially prolonging hospitalization.This procedure strains hospital resources,tying up the operating room that could otherwise accommodate critical surgeries.Clearly defined institutional guidelines are imperative to regulate this practice.AIM To measure the burden of routine implant removal on the patients and hospital.METHODS This is a retrospective analysis study of 167 routine implant removal cases treated at KFHU,a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia.Data were collected in the orthopedic department at KFHU from February 2016 to August 2022,which includes routine asymptomatic implant removal cases across all age categories.Nonroutine indications such as infection,pain,implant failure,malunion,nonunion,restricted range of motion,and prominent hardware were excluded.Patients who had external fixators removed or joints replaced were also excluded.RESULTS Between February 2016 and August 2022,360 implants were retrieved;however,only 167 of those who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study.The remaining implants were rejected due to exclusion criteria.Among the cases,44%required more than one day in the hospital,whereas 56%required only one day.55%of adults required more than one day of hospitalization,while 22.8%of pediatric patients required more than one day of inpatient care.The complication rate was 6%,with each patient experiencing at least one complication.Sick leave was required in 34.1%of cases,with 4.8%requiring more than 14 d.The most common type of anesthesia used in the surgeries was general anesthesia(88%),and the mean(SD)surgery duration was 77.1(54.7)min.CONCLUSION Routine implant removal causes unnecessary complications,prolongs hospital stays,depletes resources and monopolizing operating rooms that could serve more critical procedures.

Time of surgery and surgeon level in supracondylar humerus fractures in pediatric patients:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Supracondylar humerus fractures account for more than 60%of all elbow fractures and about 1/5 of all pediatric fractures.Unfortunately,these fractures can be associated with risk of complications including neurovascular injuries,malunions and limb deformities.Controversy exists regarding the effect of time of surgical intervention and/or level of surgeon performing the surgery on outcome of these fractures.AIM To determine whether time of surgical intervention and/or surgeon level influence the outcomes of surgically managed pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.METHODS We retrospectively studied 155 pediatric patients presenting with a supracondylar humerus fracture in a level 1 trauma center from January 2006 to December 2019.The data extracted included demographic data,fracture characteristics,surgical data,and follow-up outcomes.The collected data was analyzed and P values of<0.05 were considered statistically significant.RESULTS Of the cohort,11%of patients had documented post-operative complications,of which the majority occurred in surgeries performed after day time working hours and in fractures requiring open reduction.While the lowest complication rate was found in surgeries performed by pediatric orthopaedic surgeons,this did not reach statistical significance.CONCLUSION In pediatric patients undergoing surgery for supracondylar fractures,we found a higher complication rate when surgeries were not performed during working hours.Surgeon level and training had no significant effect on the risk of post-operative complications.