A Systemic Review of Adolescent Supracondylar Fractures: What Is the Surgical Treatment, Open Reduction With Internal Fixation (ORIF) or Closed Reduction With Percutaneous Pinning (CRPP)?

Supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures represent the most frequent elbow injury in young children. These fractures can be treated through either closed reduction with percutaneous pinning (CRPP) or open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF). Yet, the optimal treatment option for adolescents remains unclear. This research contrasts the results of CRPP and ORIF treatments for distal humerus fractures in adolescents. In June 2023, we conducted a comprehensive search of PUBMED, OVID MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and various trial registries without any time restrictions. We evaluated the quality of qualifying studies using the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) and Cochrane risk measures for bias. We extracted data particularly related to patient demographics, fracture details, medical procedures followed, complications encountered, and the resulting outcomes. Out of the 488 studies identified, only four satisfied the inclusion criteria. Both methods illustrated comparable outcomes in terms of range of motion, averaging approximately 118 degrees in the ORIF group versus a span of 114 to 128 degrees in the CRPP group. The immobilization period varied, spanning 10 to 13 days for ORIF versus 24 to 29 days for CRPP. Despite this, CRPP displayed a decreased necessity for additional surgery. Notably, one study indicated a higher frequency of heterotopic ossification within the ORIF group. This review indicates that both CRPP and ORIF are effective for treating supracondylar fractures in adolescents, yielding similar results. However, CRPP has a lower need for follow-up surgery. Future studies with larger sample sizes are needed to solidify these findings, providing stronger guidance for treatment.

Emotional intelligence and self-esteem among Saudi Arabian and Indian nursing students: findings from two countries.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the emotional intelligence (EI) and self-esteem of Indian and Saudi nursing students is important because their future nurse-patient relationships may be influenced by factors related to their unique cultural contexts. Hence, this study sought to investigate the EI and self-esteem of nursing students in Saudi Arabia and India. METHODS: A descriptive-comparative research design was used to compare 660 nursing students from Saudi Arabia and India who were enrolled in the study from September 2022 to January 2023. Nursing students were recruited from University A in Riyadh and University B in Abha, Saudi Arabia, and from University C in India. RESULTS: The study found significant differences in EI scores based on year of study (p < .011), age (p < .024), residence (p < .005), and academic performance (p < .008). Students in later years, over 20 years old, from urban areas, and with good grades, had higher EI scores. Conversely, only age showed a significant difference in the self-esteem scores (p < .002). The year of study (p > .670), residence (p > .430), and academic performance (p > .526) did not significantly affect self-esteem. Finally, urban residence and good academic performance were significant predictors of EI (p < .005), while none of the demographics predicted self-esteem (p > .005). CONCLUSION: Higher emotional intelligence among nursing students can be associated with several variables, such as being in the higher years of study, older age, residing in an urban area, and good academic performance, whereas self-esteem appears to be hardly affected by these indicators but probably influenced by other aspects that were not measured. This implies that educators in relation to self-esteem should know the relationship between emotional intelligence and nursing practice besides healthcare establishments; they need to enhance their teaching methods so that learners can have more resilient attitudes towards work, provide quality patient care, and promote a better learning environment for nurses who will become stronger professionally in the future.

The Effect of an Education Program on School Children Oral Health in Khartoum, Sudan.

Background: Oral health education programs have long been considered an essential part of oral health policies. This is important for reducing the risk of oral diseases through health enhancement and voluntary behavioral changes due to learning opportunities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of school-based oral health education program on oral health in school children in Sudan. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at four governmental schools in Khartoum, Sudan, between August 2018, and March 2022. A total of 423 school children were randomly allocated into the control (n = 211) and study (n = 212) groups. An adapted questionnaire was administered to students before and after the intervention to assess their knowledge and practice of oral health. The study group participated in oral health education activities. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21. Results: The findings revealed that the mean knowledge at the pre-educational program was 9.3066 (SD = 3.91078) and the mean knowledge after the educational program was 21.2736 (SD = 2.13982). The scores indicated that the school children had significantly higher knowledge and practice scores after the oral health education program. Conclusion: The study concluded that education program on oral health improved students' oral health knowledge and practices. Imposing theoretical and practical lessons on oral and dental health in school curricula can motivate students to maintain oral health care, and this improves oral health status.

Time Window for Acute Stroke Treatment: Current Practice in King Abdullah Medical City Specialist Hospital in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Stroke has become one of the most severe causes of long-term neurological impairment and disability and is considered one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. This study aimed to determine time delays in stroke patients from symptoms onset to treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) initiation in King Abdullah Medical City Specialist Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Patients and methods We reviewed 81 patients who suffered from acute stroke. The data were collected from patients' electronic and paper files. Patients were divided into two main categories based on interval time from recognition of symptoms to tPA treatment. Patients were divided into early treatment, if the duration was less than or equal to 120 minutes, and delayed treatment, if the interval time was more than 120 minutes. Results Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) were males, and more than half (5.6%) were in the older age group (>65 years). Patients who underwent thrombectomy were 7.4%. The mean value of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 10.7 (SD: 7.14). The mean time from symptoms onset to arrival at the hospital was 82.4 (SD: 44.1) minutes, while the total time from recognition of symptoms to tPA treatment was 154 (SD: 50.8) minutes. The prevalence of patients with delayed treatment was 72.8%, and the rest were assumed to have early treatment (27.2%). None of the socio-demographic variables were predicted to influence delayed treatment. Conclusion A significant number of patients were delayed in treatment. Patients' socio-demographic data and NIHSS scores seem to have no significant effect on delayed treatment. Further research is needed to establish the delay in time for pre-hospital and in-hospital treatment of stroke patients.