Impact of chewing Khat on the mode of delivery of Yemeni pregnant women

Khat chewing is common among Yemeni women, even during pregnancy where it may affect the wellbeing during pregnancy and during delivery of these pregnant women. This study was conducted to determine the impact of Khat chewing on the mode of delivery of pregnant Yemeni women. This is a prospective study for 60 regular Khat chewing pregnant women and 120 non-Khat chewing pregnant women, selected from those attended with singleton pregnancy in their first or second trimester from the ANC unit of AL-Gamhouri Teaching Hospital in Taiz [Republic of Yemen]. Khat chewer pregnant women, when compared with the control, showed statistically significant risk of 6.06 times to deliver at gestational age earlier than 37 weeks and insignificant risk of 2.27 times to deliver after 42 weeks. They showed a statistically significant risk of 2.65 times to deliver by cesarean section [CS] and insignificant risk of 4.86 times for instrumental delivery. This study concluded that Khat chewing is associated with higher rate of cesarean and instrumental deliveries that may affect maternal and fetal wellbeing

Treatment of non union of humerus using G. A. Ilizarov technique.

The management of the non union of humerus is one of the most challenging problems that the surgeon confronts in his practice. The procedures traditionally used are: I.M. Nailing, interlocking, plating, transplantation of allograft. In our series, 36 cases with non union has been treated by G.A. Ilizarov technique. The age range were: 21-62 years with an average of 32 years. The initial treatment were done by DCP, rush nails & plates with screw fixation. The duration of treatment ranged from 5-11 months (average 8 months). With the application of Ilizarov fixator a good range of elbow & shoulder motion were achieved. The average follow up period was 5 years with a range of 1-8 years. Union was achieved in all the 36 cases.

Surgical reconstruction of leprotic foot drop.

We have operated 152 patients for correction of foot-drop due to leprosy from March 1992 to July 1999. The method used was circumtibial transfer of the tibial is posterior to the tendons of extensor hellucis longus and the extensor digitorum longus in the foot together with lengthening of the Achilles tendon. The results were satisfactory in 135 of these cases as judged by adequate restoration of heel--toe gait and of active dorsiflexion. The follow up period ranged from 6 months to 8 years. Inadequate post-operative physiotherapy was the reason for unsatisfactory results in seventeen cases.