Prevalence of Thumb and Wrist Pain Among Smartphone Users in the Saudi Arabian General Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background This study aims to investigate the prevalence of thumb and wrist pain among smartphone users in the general population of Saudi Arabia, examining the potential links between the duration and frequency of smartphone usage, specific smartphone activities, and the occurrence of discomfort in the thumb and wrist. Methodology This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia, between July 2022 and June 2023. The questionnaire developed following an extensive literature review, covered demographic information, smartphone usage patterns, assessment of thumb or wrist pain, and evaluation of the impact of this discomfort. Descriptive statistical methods were employed, and relationships between thumb or wrist pain and demographic variables were analyzed using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Results In total, 811 participants were included in this study. Approximately 322 (39.7%) study participants reported wrist or thumb pain. Notably, female sex (P = 0.001) and prolonged daily smartphone usage exceeding five hours (P = 0.045) were linked to thumb or wrist pain. Additionally, emailing on smartphones was linked to thumb or wrist pain (P = 0.04). Concerning smartphone ergonomics, the majority of respondents reported holding their phones with one hand (215, 66.77%), in a downward position (290, 90.06%), and with their wrists bent downward (136, 42.24%). Conclusions Our study highlights a relatively high prevalence of wrist and thumb pain among smartphone users in the general Saudi Arabian population. Furthermore, we identified a connection between prolonged smartphone use and wrist and thumb pain, with a more pronounced prevalence observed among females.

Effectiveness of tranexamic acid in orthognathic surgery: A systematic review of systematic reviews.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to review the currently available evidence on the effectiveness of administering tranexamic acid (TXA) to patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. METHODS: A study protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Guideline for Overviews of Reviews (PRIOR) and registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under Registration No. CRD42021232931. Furthermore, the reporting of the present systematic review was performed based on the PRISMA checklist. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded a total of 50 articles. After reading the abstracts, 28 articles were excluded, and the English full texts of the remaining 22 studies were separately examined for eligibility by two authors; 15 articles were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, seven systematic reviews and meta-analysis satisfied the criteria for inclusion and were processed for critical review evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the present study and the reviews of the 7 articles included, it is observed that TXA is able to reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss and the amount of irrigation fluids required. However, it does not influence postoperative levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit, nor does it affect the requirement for blood transfusions. It was interestingly discovered that TXA could increase the quality of the surgical site. These data imply that TXA may be an effective adjuvant in lowering bleeding during orthognathic surgery. As a result, the potential risk of problems related with considerable blood loss may be minimized.

Cervical Spine Injuries and Maxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Identify specific maxillofacial trauma patterns associated with cervical spine injuries. METHODS: The protocol was developed according to (PRISMA-P) and was admitted to PROSPERO under accreditation code #CRD42020177816. Furthermore, the reporting of the present SR was conducted based on the PRISMA checklist. RESULTS: Of the 1,407,750 patients recorded, a total of 115,997 patients (12.13%) had MFF with an associated CSI with a gender proportion (M:F) of 3.63:1 respectively. Motor vehicle accident was the most common cause of the combined Maxillofacial Trauma (MFT) and CSI. The most common CSI location was at the C2, followed by the C5 cervical spines. The most common location of a maxillofacial fracture resulting in a CSI was the mandible. CONCLUSION: The incidence of the association of CSIs with MFT has been low (12.13%). Nevertheless, in cases of an isolated mandibular trauma due to a severe blow presenting with a low Glasgow Coma Scale, maxillofacial surgeons should be at a high alert of an associated CSI.

The prevalence of non-syndromic orofacial clefts and associated congenital heart diseases of a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts are considered one of the most common birth defects and are frequently associated with other malformations. Congenital heart disease is one of the most prevalent congenital malformation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of congenital heart diseases associated with non-syndromic orofacial clefts in the Saudi population. METHODS: Electronic files of non-syndromic orofacial cleft patients who visited the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department in King Abdulaziz Medical City of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Data were recorded in an excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS via frequency tests. RESULTS: In the cleft children identified, the prevalence of non-syndromic orofacial clefts was (77%). Orofacial clefts showed a male predominance (62%). The most common orofacial phenotype was unilateral cleft lip and palate (34%). The prevalence of associated congenital malformations with orofacial clefts was (41%). The most prevalent congenital malformation was congenital heart disease (35%), mainly found in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients (33%). The prevalence of associated congenital heart disease with orofacial clefts was (19%). The most frequent type of congenital heart disease was atrial septal defect (37%). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the recognition of the associated congenital heart disease with non-syndromic orofacial cleft patients. Global screening protocols designed for newborns with non-syndromic orofacial cleft are needed to eliminate late diagnosis of critical congenital heart diseases which might present operative risks of anesthesia and/or surgical procedures.

The Efficacy of Resin Infiltrant and Casein Phosphopeptide-amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate in Treatment of White Spot Lesions (Comparative Study).

BACKGROUND: White spot lesions (WSLs) are considered as the first sign of the progression of dental caries that can be reversed. Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP-ACFP) varnish can promote remineralization process of the demineralized tooth structure. Also, WSLs can be managed by using caries infiltrant (ICON), which infiltrates etched enamel surface of the WSLs. OBJECTIVES: The main aim was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of ICON versus CPP-ACFP varnish to treat WSLs in the same oral environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 participants aged 20-40 years with at least two WSLs have participated in this trial. Split-mouth technique has been used in this trial where WSLs on the left side have been treated with ICON, whereas WSLs on the right side have been treated with CPP-ACFP varnish. Clinical evaluation using DIAGNOdent was carried out at baseline, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after application to determine the effectiveness of these materials in treating WSLs. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between all follow-up DIAGNOdent scores compared to baseline readings of both ICON and CPP-ACFP (P = 0.000 for all comparisons). Statistically significant differences were observed between DIAGNOdent scores of ICON compared to CPP-ACFP at all follow-up intervals (P = 0.006, 0.008, 0.045, 0.036, and 0.000). CONCLUSION: Both ICON and CPP-ACFP were effective in the treatment of WSLs of smooth surfaces but the efficacy of CPP-ACFP was better than ICON.

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and severity of maxillofacial fractures resulting from motor vehicle accidents in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and severity of maxillofacial fractures resulting from motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) at King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 325 males (89%) and 47 females (9%) was conducted that retrospectively reviewed records of patients referred to oral and maxillofacial surgery department from emergency department from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017 at KAMC, Riyadh. RESULTS: A total of 372 subjects were included in the study. MVAs (80%) were the most prevalent cause of trauma. The age range most susceptible to MVAs was between 20 and 24 years old (28%). The most common site of fracture was the midface (64%), specifically orbit (32%). For mandibular fractures, the subcondylar was the most common site of fractures (19%). The most common treatment approach was conservative (65%). In terms of severity, approximately half of patients needed admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (50%); the mean score on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 11.34, but most scores fell in the mild range; and (68%) of subjects presented with other associated systemic injuries, especially orthopedic injuries (36%). CONCLUSIONS: MVAs were the main cause of trauma and affected mainly young males. The most common site of fracture was midface, specifically orbit. Subcondylar was the most prevalent fracture site for mandibular fractures. The severity of MVAs injuries was significantly higher compared to non-MVAs injuries. We suggest enforcing legislation and regulations on road safety such as the use of compulsory seat belts.

Plasma ghrelin and leptin in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and its association with nutritional status.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ghrelin and leptin are thought to play a role in the loss of appetite in active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study seeks to probe into the association of these markers with regards to IBD and the nutritional status of these patients. A case-control study was conducted between May 2015 and March 2016 at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH). Thirty-one patients with IBD (both active and non-active) and forty-one healthy controls (both non-fasting and fasting) were recruited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma ghrelin and leptin levels were determined using an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technique. The nutritional status was determined through the standardized Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) questionnaire. RESULTS: The difference in the plasma ghrelin between active (263.7 pg/mL) and non-active (108 pg/mL) cases was significant (P= 0.02). The difference in mean plasma leptin level between active cases (229.4 pg/mL) vs. non-active cases (359.7 pg/mL) was insignificant (P= 0.4). In fasting (2028.6 pg/mL) and non-fasting controls (438.8 pg/mL), the mean plasma ghrelin values was significantly different (P< 0.01). In contrast, the plasma leptin level difference between fasting (727.3 pg/mL) and non-fasting (577 pg/mL) controls was insignificant (P= 0.14). There is a statistically significant association in mean ghrelin levels between the case group and the control group (P< 0.01). With regards to nutritional status, the mean MNA score of active cases compared to fasting controls was 18.8 ± 5 vs. 20.8 ± 3.8, respectively (P< 0.01) Conclusion: Ghrelin levels were lower in the active IBD cases compared to the inactive ones, signifying an underlying pathology as etiology to this phenomenon. Furthermore, ghrelin levels were significantly lower in both case groups compared to the controls. These findings, along with the disparity in the MNA scores, insinuate a possible link between hormone levels and the loss of appetite from which these patients suffer.

The first case report of double homozygous of 2 different mutations in the CFTR gene in Saudi Arabia.

The first cases of a rare double homozygosity of two different mutations in the cystic fibrosis trans-regulator gene (CFTR) of a cystic fibrosis patient in Saudi Arabia. Details of the family screening and a review of the literature on similar cases are discussed.