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Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome causes duodenal obstruction between the SMA and aorta, which culminates into bowel obstruction. Meanwhile, nutcracker syndrome (NCS) involves left renal vein compression between the aorta and SMA, categorized by the compression site. We present a 15-year-old female with no prior medical or surgical history who displayed early signs of the rarely coexisting SMA and nutcracker phenomena, which were managed symptomatically along with nutritional support to reach her optimal body mass index.
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OBJECTIVE: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most prevalent spinal deformity affecting healthy children. Although AIS typically lacks symptomatic manifestations, its resultant deformities can affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Evaluating QoL and stress levels is crucial in determining the optimal brace type for AIS patients; however, research comparing the effectiveness of different brace types in this regard is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of Boston versus Chêneau braces on QoL and stress levels in AIS patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving 52 eligible patients selected through stratified random sampling based on type of brace as the main stratum. The inclusion criteria were idiopathic scoliosis, age ≥ 10 years, bracing for at least 3 months, and no history of cancer. QoL was evaluated according to the revised Scoliosis Research Society 22-item questionnaire (SRS-22r) and stress levels according to the eight-item Bad Sobernheim stress questionnaire (BSSQ-Brace). Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare brace-related QoL and stress level according to participants' sex and brace type. RESULTS: Overall, 32 participants were treated with Boston braces (seven men and 25 women), with a median (IQR) age of 11.00 years (10.00-13.00), and 20 participants were treated with Chêneau braces (three men, 17 women), with a median (IQR) age of 12.50 years (10.00-14.25). The total SRS-22 score was not significantly different between the brace groups (p = 0.158). However, patients in the Boston brace group reported significantly higher satisfaction levels (median = 4.00, IQR = 3.50-4.50) than did those in the Chêneau brace group (median = 3.25, IQR = 2.38-4.13, p = 0.013, moderate effect size = 0.345, 95% CI = 0.060 to 0.590). Furthermore, the BSSQ-brace total score was significantly higher in the Boston brace group (median = 9.00, IQR = 8.00-12.00) than in the Chêneau brace group (median = 7.50, IQR = 4.75-10.00, p = 0.007, moderate effect size = 0.376, 95% CI = 0.130 to 0.590), indicating higher stress levels in the Chêneau brace group. CONCLUSION: The QoL in AIS patients undergoing brace treatment was comparable across groups. Nonetheless, patients who used Chêneau braces experienced higher stress levels and lower treatment satisfaction rates than did those who used Boston braces. These findings can inform clinical decisions regarding prescription of bracing types and highlight the need for further in-depth research.
Subject(s)
Braces , Quality of Life , Scoliosis , Humans , Scoliosis/therapy , Scoliosis/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adolescent , Female , Male , Saudi Arabia , Child , Surveys and Questionnaires , Stress, PsychologicalABSTRACT
Background and Objectives: Diabetic foot (DF) disease is one of the myriad complications of diabetes. Positive outcomes are expected through a multidisciplinary approach as provided by primary care providers (PCPs). This study aimed to assess the knowledge of DF and attitude of physicians in primary healthcare settings toward DF diagnosis and prevention in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire that was completed by family medicine consultants, residents, and general practitioners working in primary care settings in Riyadh. Results: Of the 152 physicians who completed the survey, (43.4%) completed more than 10 h of diabetes continuing medical education (CME) over the past three years. Most (96.1%) PCPs educate patients about foot self-inspection, and only (64.5%) perform foot inspection at every visit in high-risk diabetic foot patients. PCP knowledge about diagnosing and managing diabetic foot infection was suboptimal. Only 53.9% of participants reported performing a probe-to-bone in DF patients with open wounds. Conclusions: We identified knowledge and action gaps among PCPs. Physicians had acceptable knowledge about preventive measures. However, deficits were found regarding diagnosing and management of DF infections. We recommend addressing these knowledge gaps by incorporating DF lectures and workshops within family medicine conferences and residency programs.