Injury patterns from road traffic accidents

To report the pattern of injuries from high speed road traffic accidents [RTA] in the Southern Region of Saudi Arabia. In this prospective criteria based one year study; data was collected upon arrival of patients to the accident and emergency department. The patients were grouped into two, with fractures [Group-1] and without [Group-2]. A total of 1513 patients were included, 628 in Group-1 and 885 in Group-2. There were 1356 male and 157 female patients in total. Majority were in the younger age group, drivers and front seat passengers. Fewer were using restrains and more reported driving with high speeds in group-1 compared to group-2. Most accidents occurred during 12:00 hrs to 24:00 hrs in both groups. Although most of the causative factors of Road traffic accidents in this region of Saudi Arabia are similar to the rest of the world; some remain unique to the region

Ultrasound screening of at risk infants optimizes conservative management and can reduce the rate of surgery in developmental dyspalsia of Hip

To determine the usefulness of ultrasound screening of only at risk infants in the management of developmental dysplasia of hip [D.D.H.]. All live births, [9310], were examined by a neonatologist within 24 hours of birth. The infants with unstable hips on clinical examination, clicking hips, family history, breech presentation [vaginal delivery and caesarean sections] and those with concurrent congenital deformity were then seen in the D.D.H. clinic, within 3 weeks of birth .The infants were classified according to the ultrasound appearance of their hips. Graf's typing was used and formed the basis for conservative and surgical management. There were 218 Grade I, normal babies. There were 89 dysplastic hips in 83 patients. 51 Grade II, 23 Grade III and 15 Grade IV dysplasias. During the study of 23 months of study only 3 hips, all with an initial type 1V ultrasound appearance were unresponsive to conservative measures and required open surgery. Ultrasound screening of babies at risk and those with unstable hips on clinical examination optimizes conservative management and can reduce the rate of open surgical intervention in D.D.H