Functional outcome of arthroscopic assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objective: To assess the mid-term functional outcome of arthroscopic assisted anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] reconstruction using bone-patellar tendon-bone [BPTB] graft based upon subjective scores. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Department of Orthopaedics and Spine, Doctors Hospital and Medical Centre, Lahore, Pakistan from Jan to Dec 2016

Patients and Methods: After fulfilling the inclusion criteria 52 patients who underwent arthroscopic assisted ACL reconstruction were enrolled into the study. Patients were subjectively evaluated with Lysholm knee scoring scale and Tegner activity scale. Preoperative scores were obtained and compared with those obtained 6 months after surgery and were analyzed using wilcoxon signed-rank test on IBM SPSS statistics version 20

Results: Mean difference between preoperative and 6 months postoperative Lysholm scores was 30.04 +/- 13.42 [p<0.001] and mean difference in Tegner activity scale was 2.88 +/- 1.11 [p<0.001]. Excellent scores were obtained in 40 [77%] patients, good in 1 [2%], fair in 7 [13%] and poor in 4 [8%] of patients. Postoperative complications included anterior knee pain in 3 [5.76%], superficial surgical site infection in 1 [1.9%], deep surgical site infection in 1[1.9%] and joint stiffness in 1 [1.9%] patient

Conclusion: Arthroscopic assisted ACL reconstruction using BPTB autograft showed an excellent functional outcome explained in terms of subjective evaluation as depicted by Lysholm knee scoring scale and Tegner activity scale

Pakhtun social organization [pakhtunwali] and gendered decision-making process in mate selection among pakhtuns of district malakand, KPK, Pakistan

The current study examined to explore gender based discrimination in mate selection among Pakhtuns. This research was conducted in Batkhela, [the capital of District Malakand], Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Data was collected from 200 respondents [both male and female] selected by stratified random sampling technique. A structured interview schedule was used as a tool of data collection. The results show that the process of decision-making in mate selection is highly gendered that is, caused by the practice of patriarchy, male dominance and rigidity of Pakhtun social organization. Such values tend to define the code of life that is mostly gender biased and women are particularly the victims of disparity in their mate selection process

Socio-Economic and political obstacles in women's empowerment in Pakhtun Society of District Dir [L], Khyber Pkhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The fact is obvious that women constitute almost half of the total population, while they are deprived in more than half of their rights and shares, which they deserve by living in this social world. This research is an attempt to describe the Socio-Economic, and Political obstacles that exist in gender development particularly in women's empowerment in District Dir [L] of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. To study the socio economic and political obstacles a comprehensive survey was made in eight union councils of the district and 775 educated females were selected through proportionate stratified sampling technique. The data was collected through a semi-structured interview schedule. The collected information was then classified, tabulated and presented in bar charts, which has further been discussed qualitatively in detail. The results show that there exist various social, economic and political obstacles in women's empowerment and gender development in Pakhtun society

Factors relating to acceptance of hepatitis B virus vaccination by nursing students in a tertiary hospital, Pakistan.

This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the prevalence of, and factors relating to, the acceptance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination by nursing students in a tertiary hospital in Pakistan. In total, 210 nursing students of Year 2 to Year 4 were invited to participate in the study; of them, 196 (93.3%) returned completed questionnaires. Overall, the prevalence of acceptance of HBV vaccination among them was 75.0%. Of these, 37.2% (73/196) were completely vaccinated, and 25.0% (49/196) had not been vaccinated at all. More than half (27/49, 55.1%) of the unvaccinated nursing students stated that they would accept vaccination if offered. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated three variables significantly related to acceptance of HBV vaccination: history of accidental exposure to blood or blood products, acceptable knowledge about HBV infection, and adequate budget for HBV vaccination. Health institutions should allocate adequate budgets to vaccinate their nursing students. Effective intervention programmes designed to increase knowledge about HBV infection and adhering to universally-accepted precautions are needed.

Frequency of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among cataract patients

In Pakistan the frequency of Hepatitis B and C virus infection ranges from 8-15% in the general population with variations in different parts of the country. Patients undergoing any surgical procedure may have these infections, demanding special precautions. The aim of this study was to determine frequency of hepatitis B and C among patients undergoing elective cataract surgery. It was a descriptive study based on survey in which all patients above the age of 25 years, presenting for cataract surgery to Mehmood Eye Hospital, District Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan were screened for Hepatitis B and C infections, from 1st July 2004 to 31st May 2006. The findings were recorded on a structured compilation sheet and analyzed. Those found positive on screening test were confirmed by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay [ELISA]. Total number of patients screened was 1130. The frequency of hepatitis B and C [combined] was found to be 5.75%[65/1130]; out of which 3.18% [36/1130] were HBsAg positive and 2.57% [29/1130] anti-HCV positive. Out of them, 39 were males [60%] and 26 females [40%]. The frequency of HBV was 72% [26/ 36] in males and 28% [10/36] in females. The frequency of HCV was 45% [13/29] in males and 55% [16/29] in females. The proportion of HBsAg to anti-HCV was 55%[36/65] to 45% [29/65]. The frequency of hepatitis B and C [combined] was more in age group ranging between 45 - 74 years, in both sexes. The frequency of hepatitis B among age groups 25 - 34, 35 - 44, 45 - 54, 55 - 64, 65 - 74 and 75 years and above was 3% [1/36], 6% [2/36], 17% [6/36], 33% [12/36], 28% [10/36], and 13% [5/36], respectively. The frequency of hepatitis C among age groups 25 - 34, 35 - 44, 45 - 54, 55 - 64, 65 - 74 and 75 years and above was 3% [1/29], 3% [1/29], 10% [3/29], 38% [11/29], 28% [8/29], and 18% [5/29] respectively. The frequency of hepatitis B and C [combined] among urban and rural populations was 45% [29/65] and 55% [36/65] respectively. One of the interesting findings was that none of the patient was found to be suffering simultaneously from both hepatitis B and C. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV in patients presenting for surgery is high, requiring routine preoperative screening of all the patients