Experience of the orthopedic division at King Saud university in organizing and conducting the objective structured clinical examination [OSCE]

The objective structured clinical examination [OSCE] as a format of testing has been used by the Orthopaedic Division at the Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University since 1984. The aim of this report is to present our experience in organizing and conducting the test and to discuss the advantages and limitations. With careful planning, this method of testing has the content validity, reliability and objectivity and it allows testing a large number of students in a short period of time. The limitations and disadvantages of this examination include the inability to test the student's skill to look at the patient as a whole, the examination could be demanding for both examiners and patients. and the initial organization could be difficult and time consuming. It was concluded that further research is needed to find the appropriate methods in order to overcome these limitations

usual and the unusual presentation of Ewing's sarcoma

We conducted a review of 14 patients with an established histological diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma in order to analyze the clinical and radiological features of the disease as observed at King Khalid University Hospital and to compare them with those reported in the literature. There were 9 males and 5 females, and the average age was 11 years. All patients but one complained of a painful swelling. Symptoms had lasted an average of 4 months and 50% of the patients had a history of trauma. The radiological appearance varied according to the bone and the part of the bone involved. Only 36% of the patients exhibited the classic appearance. Based on the clinical and radiological findings, the provisional diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma was accurate in 50% of the cases. Other diagnoses included osteomyelitis, trauma, osteosarcoma, and actinomycosis. Ewing's sarcoma may mimic a variety of conditions, and although a combination of painful swelling seen clinically and a destructive lesion shown radiologically in an immature skeleton should confirm the diagnosis, variations from the usual features do occur

cost-effective paediatric orthopedic table

The application of a hip spica plaster cast in children is a common procedure. The indications are many, but it is most often used in the management of patients with congenital hip dislocation and fractures of the femoral shaft. For this purpose the table described has been designed to allow the surgeon to perform manipulations, screen the patient radiologically and then apply the hip spica plaster cast with minimal disturbance to the patient. This simple design is based on two sliding parts, one for manual examination and X-ray screening and the second for plaster application

experimental study of the effect of eating dates [tamre] on fracture healing in rats

An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of eating dates [Tamre] on fracture healing. This experiment was prompted by the frequent questioning by patients and relatives regarding the myth that eating Tamre has an unfavourable effect on fracture healing. Seventy-eight animals, male Wistar-type rats, with an average weight of 500 g were divided randomly into three groups: Group C [control] received a normal diet; experimental Group I had 50% of their diets substituted by dates; and, Group II had 25% of their diets substituted by dates [Tamre-Khidri type]. Under anaesthesia, the right tibia was fractured in all groups and the fractures were fixed using intramedullary Kirchner's wires. At regular intervals, one rat of each group was sacrificed and the healing was tested radiologically and mechanically. The overall results shewed no significant difference between Group C [control] and Group II, whereas in Group I, there was a higher incidence of delayed union and non-union. It was concluded that eating dates [Tamre] has no unfavourable effect on fracture healing unless it is the main source of food

Segmental and comminuted segmental femoral shaft fractures - a study of 33 cases

The results of a study of 33 cases of segmental and comminuted segmental femoral shaft fractures, treated under our care from January 1980 to December 1985, are presented and analysed. This paper provides a useful classification of this type of injury and compares the results of different types of treatment. Depending upon the severity of comminution, these fractures have been classified into: segmental fractures, split segmental fractures, and multifragmented segmental fractures. In this study 13 cases were treated by traction, six cases by AO intramedullary nail, nine cases by AO condylar plate and five cases by AO external fixator. By analyzing the results of different methods of treatment, it was found that segmental and split segmental fractures are best treated by internal fixation. Displaced unstable multifragmented segmental fractures are best treated by external fixation, while undisplaced stable fractures are best treated by traction. Cases of segmental and split segmental fractures, treated by traction, had unsatisfactory results because of angulation and shortening