Alshammasi Salma S, Almughlliq Alzahra B, Alqrunawi Noor A, Alsheddi Kawther A, Alsalmi Sultan
Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU.
Neurosurgery, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAU.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 4;16(9):e68677. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68677. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a developmental spinal deformity characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine, affecting one in 1,000 births. The mainstay of treatment involves either observation or surgery in significant curve progression. The optimal timing of surgical intervention is debated, with early intervention preferred. Therefore, understanding physicians' and patients' families' perspectives is crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes in CS.
To assess the awareness and knowledge of physicians and patients' families regarding current, as well as new surgical practices and the optimal timing of treatment for CS.
A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saudi Arabia using an online self-administered questionnaire distributed through social media platforms and neurosurgery clinics. Levels of awareness were assessed by a knowledge-scoring system.
The study involved 403 participants, primarily patients' families (85.1%, N = 343) and physicians (14.9%, N = 60). The results show that physicians had a significantly higher correct response than patients' families regarding the ideal age for surgical correction of CS, the timing of surgical intervention whether before or after maturity, and the role of conservative management, as evident from statistically significant p-values of <0.001, 0.031, and <0.001, respectively. On the contrary, patients' families excelled in understanding interventions irrespective of symptomatic status if Cobb's angle is 40 degrees or above, with a statistically significant p-value of 0.031. Both groups exhibited a good level of overall knowledge, as evidenced by mean awareness scores of 12.18 and 11.64, respectively. Additionally, physicians had a statistically significant higher level of awareness compared to patients' families, with a p-value of (0.014). However, both groups demonstrated poor knowledge of the latest techniques, including distraction-based magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGRs), growth-guided modern Luque trolleys, and posterior dynamic deformity correction (ApiFix).
The mean awareness score of both physicians and patients' families indicates a good level of knowledge. However, both groups exhibited poor knowledge in relation to the optimal timing of treatment and new surgical techniques.
先天性脊柱侧凸（CS）是一种发育性脊柱畸形，其特征为脊柱异常弯曲，在每1000例出生中约有1例受影响。治疗的主要方法包括观察或在侧弯明显进展时进行手术。手术干预的最佳时机存在争议，早期干预更受青睐。因此，了解医生和患者家属的观点对于优化CS的手术效果至关重要。
评估医生和患者家属对当前以及新的手术方法和CS治疗最佳时机的认识和了解。
在沙特阿拉伯进行了一项横断面研究，使用通过社交媒体平台和神经外科诊所分发的在线自填问卷。通过知识评分系统评估认识水平。
该研究涉及403名参与者，主要是患者家属（85.1%，N = 343）和医生（14.9%，N = 60）。结果显示，在CS手术矫正的理想年龄、手术干预是在成熟前还是成熟后以及保守治疗的作用方面，医生的正确回答显著高于患者家属，分别从<0.001、0.031和<0.001的统计学显著p值可以看出。相反，患者家属在理解无论症状状态如何，如果Cobb角为40度或以上时的干预方面表现出色，统计学显著p值为0.031。两组的总体知识水平都较好，平均认识得分分别为12.18和11.64。此外，与患者家属相比，医生的认识水平在统计学上显著更高，p值为（0.014）。然而，两组对包括基于撑开的磁控生长棒（MCGRs）、生长引导的现代Luque架和后路动态畸形矫正（ApiFix）在内的最新技术的了解都很差。
医生和患者家属的平均认识得分表明知识水平良好。然而，两组在治疗的最佳时机和新手术技术方面的知识都很差。
