survey of musculoskeletal disorders in institutionalized patients in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia

To define the spectrum and types of musculoskeletal disorders in patients living/residing in rehabilitation institutes in the eastern province of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. All the residents in the 4 rehabilitation institutes in the eastern province, KSA were evaluated by a consultant nurse team. A total of 608 residents [352 males, 256 females, age range 2-97 years] were examined. Musculoskeletal deformities were identified in 256 [41.6%]. These deformities included kyphosis 47 [7.7%], scoliosis 57 [9.4%], kyphoscoliosis 38 [6.3%], contractures in the upper extremities 111 [15.2%] and the lower extremities 191 [31.4%]. Finger deformities were seen in 40 [6.6%], wrist deformities 46 [6.1%] and club foot 58 [9.5%] patients. Most of these patients suffered from cerebral palsy. Musculoskeletal deformities are frequently seen in institutionalized patients. Identification and accurate quantification of these and other abnormalities may be useful in planning the type and scope of rehabilitation and other support services in such institutions

Evolution of polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type I in a Saudi Arabian family

The clinical and laboratory findings are described in three male Saudi Arabia siblings, aged 28, 18, and 9 years and products of consanguineous marriage. In all three patients, serum calcium and parathyroid hormone were low, while serum phosphate was high. Patients 1 and 2 had low serum thyroxine, low serum cortisol, and elevated serum thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]. Patients 3 had normal serum thyroxine, cortisol, and TSH. Patients 1 had a high corticotrophin level and antibodies against pancreatic islet cells, and patients 1 and 2 both had significant titers of antibodies to thyroglobulin and microsomes. The findings described in this family are consistent with polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type I, in which patients 1 and 2 had primary hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, and hypoadrenalism, developing in that order. So far, patients 3 has had only hypoparathyroidism