Survey of hand surgeons' and therapists' perceptions of the benefit of common surgical procedures of the hand

Plastic Surgeon versus Orthopedic Surgeon: Where Would You go for Your Hand Injury? A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia

Background  Hand surgery has become a well-established medical specialty in recent years, with many highly trained hand surgeons practicing in various cities throughout Saudi Arabia. It is crucial to assess the public's knowledge and awareness regarding hand surgery specialists and to identify the existence of bias in the public's perception of plastic and Orthopedic surgeons. Methods  A self-administered questionnaire was designed and disseminated to adults in Saudi Arabia via Google Forms. The questionnaire addressed participants' knowledge about which type of surgeon they would consult for various hand-related issues. Results  A total of 716 participants were surveyed. Most believed Orthopedic surgeons were more qualified for hand surgeries than plastic surgeons. Furthermore, the public seemed to feel safer with Orthopedic surgeons regarding complications. There was a misconception regarding plastic surgeons' qualifications, with only 24.4% recognizing that all plastic surgeons could perform hand surgery. The majority also held misconceptions regarding Orthopedic surgeons' qualifications for hand surgery. Gender and educational level influenced the responses, with females and those with bachelor's degrees or higher showing slightly more knowledge. Conclusion  There is a need for increased public awareness and education regarding the qualifications and capabilities of both plastic and Orthopedic surgeons in hand surgeries. Both specialties are well-trained and competent in this area, and the choice should be based on the specific needs and circumstances of the patient.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A National Survey to Monitor Knowledge and Operating Methods

The aim of this article was to investigate the knowledge, management, and clinical practice of Italian physiotherapists concerning patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). A national cross-sectional survey consisted of 24 questions was administered from December 2019 until February 2020. A Chi-squared independence test was run to study any difference between subgroups of the sample and responses to the questionnaire. Five hundred and eight respondents completed the survey. Most respondents (n = 225/508; 44.3%) are under 29 years old, female (n = 256/508; 50.4%) and have been working as physiotherapists for less than 5 years (n = 213/508; 41.9%). Most of respondents correctly knows about the cause (n = 455/508, 89.6%), main signs and symptoms of CTS (n = 415/508, 81.70%) and administer education, manual therapy, myofascial techniques and therapeutic exercises (n = 457/508, 89.88%). Three hundred and sixty-four (71.68%) respondents were aware of the influence of psychosocial factors on the patient’s outcomes. The survey showed greater adherence to evidences by physiotherapists holding a master’s degree. The results are mostly comparable with other surveys structured all over the world on the same topic. Italian physiotherapists management of the CTS was not always in line with current evidence. Interventions such as education, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, nerve and tendon glide techniques are widely used, while the orthotic is only offered by half of the sample.