Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Avicenna J Med 2024; 14(01): 054-059
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779487
Original Article

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

Muna F. Alnaim 
1   College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
,
Nouf M. AlRabiah
1   College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
,
Hanan Ahmed M Al Kaabi
2   College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
,
Basem Zogel
3   Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
,
Samar Alfaifi
3   Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
,
Nora Ibrahim AlMssallem
1   College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
,
Bassmh A. Al Dafer 
4   Division of Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

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.

Keywords

hand surgery - knowledge and awareness - plastic surgery - Orthopedic surgery - Saudi Arabia


Publication History

Article published online:
07 February 2024

© 2024. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Omer Jr GE. Development of hand surgery: education of hand surgeons. J Hand Surg Am 2000; 25 (04) 616-628
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Omer Jr GE, Graham III WP. Development of certification in hand surgery. J Hand Surg Am 1989; 14 (04) 589-593
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Curtin CM, Yao J. Referring physicians' knowledge of hand surgery. Hand (N Y) 2010; 5 (03) 278-285
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Mariappan N, Vignesh M. Recent advances in hand surgery and future prospects. Biosci Biotechnol Res Asia 2019; 16 (01) 211-219
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Leppänen OV, Jokihaara J, Jämsen E, Karjalainen T. Survey of hand surgeons' and therapists' perceptions of the benefit of common surgical procedures of the hand. J Plast Surg Hand Surg 2018; 52 (01) 1-6
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Aguilera A. Introductory Chapter: The Art of Hand Surgery. In: Essentials of Hand Surgery. IntechOpen; 2018. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76668
    Google Scholar
  • 7 Kattan AE, Al-Qattan MM. Hand surgery in Saudi Arabia. J Hand Microsurg 2021; 13 (01) 2-3
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Goyal K. A detailed note on hand surgery and its types. Arch Clin Exp Surg 2022; 11: 1-2
    Google Scholar
  • 9 Testa EJ, Orman S, Bergen MA, Ready LV, Li NY, Gil JA. Variability in hand surgery training among plastic and orthopaedic surgery residents. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2022; 6 (01) e21-e00138
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Goldfarb CA, Lee WP, Briskey D, Higgins JP. An American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) task force report on hand surgery subspecialty certification and ASSH membership. J Hand Surg Am 2014; 39 (02) 330-334
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Stern PJ. Subspecialty certification in hand surgery. Clin Orthop Relat Res 2006; 449 (449) 165-168
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar