Thamer M Alraiyes1, Abdulrhman Alrajhi2, Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar3, Abdulrahman Zekry2, Naif M Alotaibi4, Sami Aleissa5, Zayed Alzayed1. 1. Department of Orthopaedics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2. Department of Orthopaedics, King Saud University & Hospitals, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Manhasset, New York. 4. National Neuroscience Institute, King Fahad Medical City, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 5. Department of Surgery, Division of Orthopedics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We used a cross-sectional study design (questionnaire) to investigate the use of image-guided navigation (IGN) in Saudi Arabia and explore possible differences in implementing IGN for daily practice. METHODS: An internet-based survey was sent to all spine surgeons who are practicing in Saudi Arabia (orthopedics or neurosurgery). The survey is composed of 12 items that collected demographic and academic data. RESULTS: Ninety-nine answered the questionnaire from 197; 80% were from Riyadh, the capital, and 50% were consultants (attending physicians). Orthopedic surgeons were almost 60% of responders compared to 40% neurosurgeons. The use of navigation in Saudi hospitals was high (76.8%). There was a significant difference between specialties in the preference of using navigation (23.2% for orthopedics versus 81.4% for neurosurgery, P < .001) and routine use in surgical spine cases (88.4% for neurosurgery versus 50.0% orthopedics, P < .001). The majority of responders from neurosurgery learned to use navigation during residency compared to orthopedics responders (51.2% versus 28.6%, P = .001). More than 30% of orthopedics responders expressed they never learned navigation compared to only 4% of neurosurgery responders. The comfort level of > 75% with performing surgery using navigation was significantly different between specialties (25% for orthopedics versus 46.5% for neurosurgery, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Saudi spine surgeons are among the highest users of IGN systems. The strong healthcare infrastructure and the availability of these devices across the country are among the most important factors for its prevalence. Enhancing surgical exposure and education of postgraduate trainees to use these tools, especially within orthopedics, could increase use and comfort level rates. This manuscript is generously published free of charge by ISASS, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
BACKGROUND: We used a cross-sectional study design (questionnaire) to investigate the use of image-guided navigation (IGN) in Saudi Arabia and explore possible differences in implementing IGN for daily practice. METHODS: An internet-based survey was sent to all spine surgeons who are practicing in Saudi Arabia (orthopedics or neurosurgery). The survey is composed of 12 items that collected demographic and academic data. RESULTS: Ninety-nine answered the questionnaire from 197; 80% were from Riyadh, the capital, and 50% were consultants (attending physicians). Orthopedic surgeons were almost 60% of responders compared to 40% neurosurgeons. The use of navigation in Saudi hospitals was high (76.8%). There was a significant difference between specialties in the preference of using navigation (23.2% for orthopedics versus 81.4% for neurosurgery, P < .001) and routine use in surgical spine cases (88.4% for neurosurgery versus 50.0% orthopedics, P < .001). The majority of responders from neurosurgery learned to use navigation during residency compared to orthopedics responders (51.2% versus 28.6%, P = .001). More than 30% of orthopedics responders expressed they never learned navigation compared to only 4% of neurosurgery responders. The comfort level of > 75% with performing surgery using navigation was significantly different between specialties (25% for orthopedics versus 46.5% for neurosurgery, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Saudi spine surgeons are among the highest users of IGN systems. The strong healthcare infrastructure and the availability of these devices across the country are among the most important factors for its prevalence. Enhancing surgical exposure and education of postgraduate trainees to use these tools, especially within orthopedics, could increase use and comfort level rates. This manuscript is generously published free of charge by ISASS, the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.
Authors: I H Kalfas; D W Kormos; M A Murphy; R L McKenzie; G H Barnett; G R Bell; C P Steiner; M B Trimble; J P Weisenberger Journal: J Neurosurg Date: 1995-10 Impact factor: 5.115
Authors: Florian T Gebhard; Michael D Kraus; Eugen Schneider; Ulrich C Liener; Lothar Kinzl; Markus Arand Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2006-08-01 Impact factor: 3.468