Background/Aim: Most scoring systems in healthcare take into account the physical condition and pain status of a patient, but the impact of society on the individual is ignored. The aim of our study was to evaluate the social media posts made by patients regarding lumbar discectomy surgery. The objective was to identify and explore concerns and issues that may not be immediately evident during clinical evaluations but are significant to the patients themselves. Methods: Public posts with the hashtags #discectomy, #lumbardisectomy, and #discectomyrecovery were examined on the Instagram application. The tone of the post, return to sports (RTS), rehabilitation or physical therapy (PT), return to work (RTW), incision site (e.g., scarring, sutures, and dressing), pain, activities of daily living (ADL), and X-ray/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were evaluated. The "Instagram likes ratio" was determined by dividing the total number of likes received for each post by the number of followers. Results: 272 posts were assessed, and 77.9% of them exhibited a positive tone. The topic that was most frequently discussed was ADL, which was discussed in 24.6% of the posts. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between positive tone and ADL, as well as positive tone and RTS (P<0.001). A statistically significant correlation was observed between negative tone and neurological deficits, pain, and X-ray/MRI findings (P<0.001). Conclusion: Our study offers a unique perspective on the experience and satisfaction of patients who have undergone lumbar discectomy. Neurologic deficits and pain were notably significant in the negative posts. However, in general, the majority of the posts maintained a positive tone. The results could provide insights into patients' experiences and perspectives that can potentially inform healthcare professionals in providing more comprehensive and patient-centered care.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The hip fracture is the leading cause of disability and deaths in elderly. If left untreated, the hip fracture results in inability to walk, and therefore the patient is dependent on the other's people help. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive values of the functional status, present comorbidities, and the types of treatment on the long-term functional status and mortality in patients with the hip fracture. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analyzed the data about the patients with the hip fractures treated in the period between 01.07.2006. and 01.07.2016., with the mean follow-up period between 34.3±4.9 months. The data included radiographs, age, comorbidities, functional status on admission, functional status on discharge, and follow-ups. RESULTS Female sex, increasing age, and poorer functional status upon admission, conservative treatment, trochanteric fracture, the presence of neurological or lung disease, diabetes, were all significant risk factors leading to poorer functional outcomes on the latest follow-up (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the patients who were mobile upon admission had a longer survival (38.1±3.51 months) as compared with the other patients (12.3±5.1 months; χ2=25.202, p = 0.001). Besides, the results of this study revealed that the direct, statistically significant relationship exists between the untreated internal and neurological diseases, and increased mortality and poorer functional outcomes on the latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS These results are useful for the orthopedic and trauma surgeons, who are treating these patients, the physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, who are performing the rehabilitation of these patients, but also the health policy makers, who may promote the programmes of healthy aging (treating the diseases, maintaining fitness, etc.) Key words: hip fracture; comorbidity; mortality; functional status.

Aim To measure a calibre of radial and ulnar septocutaneous perforators at the anterior forearm, and to count its number in proximal, middle and distal thirds. Methods The study was conducted on 50 fresh amputated forearms (trauma, tumours) in the period between January 2012 and December 2021. Forearms were collected from several hospitals in Belgrade, and analysed at the Institute of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Belgrade, Serbia. Injection of ink-gelatin and fine dissection of autopsy material was performed on 30 forearms, and corrosion method with injecting methyl methacrylate for 3D analysis on the other 20 forearms. Results A mean calibre of septocutaneous perforators on the radial artery was 0.53±0.46 mm (0.2-0.85). Averagely, there were 8.1 radial artery septocutaneous perforators - two perforators on the proximal third, 3.7 on the middle third, and 2.7 on the distal third. The mean calibre of ulnar artery perforators was 0.65±0.35 mm (0.18-1.8). The average number of septocutaneous perforators of the ulnar artery was 5.6; 1.2 on the proximal third, two on the middle third, and 2.2 on distal third. Conclusion Determination of the origin, calibre and spreading directions of the arterial septocutaneous perforators on the anterior forearm provide quantification of data about arborisation of radial and ulnar septocutaneous perforators at the anterior forearm. Clinical relevance of those anatomical data is in defining of safe locations and dimensions of forearm fasciocutaneous flaps in plastic surgery.

Background: From 2013 the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki explicitly requires pre-registration of a study involving human subjects. The registration gives a chance for improvement of design and avoidance of bias. Objective: The aim of this article was to describe process of bearing decision to create regional registry of clinical studies for Balkan countries. Methods: After finding relevant studies about research registries and designing the concept and structure of future regional registry an article was published in IJBH journal. The article was than used as basis for discussion at 2020 meeting of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AMSBH), and final decision was made by the Academy to create the research registry. Results: Regional registry of clinical studies will be under the auspices of AMSBH and web-based, with the option of online registration of new studies. The data required to be entered in the moment of registration relate to key elements of research plan: topic, variables, sample, type of the study and the study population. After applying for registration of a clinical study, the authors will soon receive the review made by the AMSBH expert committee. The application could be accepted, rejected or returned for major or minor revision. After an application is accepted, it will be deposited in the searchable database and given the registration number. Conclusion: The AMSBH’s decision to create the regional registry of clinical studies will satisfy needs of researchers from Balkan countries in the first place, who share cultural and lingual similarities. It will also help with increasing standards of clinical research in the region.

Background: Enormous number of medical journals published around the globe requires standardization of editing practice. Objective: The aim of this article was to enlist main principles of editing biomedical scientific journals adopted at annual meeting of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia & Herzegovina (AMSB&H). Methods: The evidence for writing this Guideline was systematically searched for during September 2020 in the PUBMED and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases. The inclusion criteria were: original studies, systematic reviews, invited expert opinions, guidelines and editorials. The exclusion criteria were narrative reviews and uninvited opinion articles. The retrieved evidence was analyzed by members of the AMSB&H, then discussed at 2020 annual meeting of the AMSB&H and adopted by nominal group technique. Results: In total 14 recommendations were made, based on A to C class of evidence. The editors should educate potential authors and instruct them how to structure their manuscript, how to write every segment of the manuscript, and take care about correct use of statistical tests. Plagiarism detection softwares should be used regularly, and statistical and technical editing should be rigorous and thorough. International standards of reporting specific types of studies should be followed, and principles of ethical and responsible behavior of editors, reviewers and authors should be published on the journal’s web site. The editors should insist on registration of clinical studies before submission, and check whether non-essential personal information is removed from the articles; when essential personal information has to be included, an article should not be published without signed informed consent by the patient to whom these information relate. Conclusions: Principles of editing biomedical scientific journals recommended in this guideline should serve as one of the means of improving medical journals’ quality.

Aim To explore the experiences of registered nurses in assessing postoperative pain in hip fracture patients suffering from dementia in nursing homes. Methods The study was designed as a qualitative study using data from a self-reported questionnaire form. Data were collected through the self-administered questionnaire with 23 questions, mainly addressing demographic and social data, information about communication and pain assessment. Results All nurses reported that large part of verbal communication with dementia patients was lost, and non-verbal communication was very important to optimize the care of these patients in postoperative situations. An assessment of pain in patients with dementia and hip fractures was a complex process because cognitive ability of these patients was reduced. Conclusion Registered nurses need to know various and different forms of evaluation and tools to assess the experience of pain in patients with dementia who had undergone surgery for hip fractures. This is a complicated task, which requires a great deal of time, and means that nurses must work together with other medical staff, using a holistic approach.

In spine deformity surgery, iatrogenic neurologic injuries might occur due to the mechanical force applied to the spinal cord from implants, instruments, and bony structures, or due to ischemic changes from vessel ligation during exposure and cord distraction/compression during corrective manoeuvres. Prompt reaction within the reversible phase (reducing of compressive/distractive forces) usually restores functionality of the spinal cord, but if those forces continue to persist, a permanent neurological deficit might be expected. With monitoring of sensory pathways (dorsal column–medial lemniscus) by somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs), such events are detected with a sensitivity of up to 92%, and a specificity of up to 100%. The monitoring of motor pathways by transcranial electric motor-evoked potentials (TceMEPs) has a sensitivity and a specificity of up to 100%, but it requires avoidance of halogenated anaesthetics and neuromuscular blockades. Different modalities of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM: SSEP, TceMEP, or combined) can be performed by the neurophysiologist, the technician or the surgeon. Combined SSEP/TceMEP performed by the neurophysiologist in the operating room is the preferable method of IONM, but it might be impractical or unaffordable in many institutions. Still, many spine deformity surgeries worldwide are performed without any type of IONM. Medicolegal aspects of IONM are different worldwide and in many cases some vagueness remains. The type of IONM that a spinal surgeon employs should be reliable, affordable, practical, and recognized by the medicolegal guidelines. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2020;5:9-16. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.180032

Aim To explore the experiences of anaesthesia nurses in assessing postoperative pain in patients undergoing total hip and/or knee arthroplasty. Methods Data were collected through four focus group interviews (FGI) using the critical incident technique (CIT). The participants were six men and 12 women, all registered nurses with further education in anaesthesia with at least five-year experience of caring for patients on a postoperative ward. Results Maintaining communication with orthopaedic patients, different ways to assess pain, the assessment of unresponsive patients, using pain assessment scales and different work circumstances influencing their use, were stated as the main problems the nurses emphasize while assessing the pain of patients. Conclusion Skills related to observing the behaviour and experience of pain in different individuals are needed to ensure an understanding of patients' pain, as well as the patients' ability to estimate their pain, where the intensity of the pain varies in different patients. Further studies are needed to examine the way health professionals assess pain, depending on the patients' ability to transform their pain from a subjective feeling into an objective numeric grade. The way individuals assess their pain differently and the way the resulting knowledge and experience of postoperative care may help nurses and other health-care professionals.

Aim To explore the experience of registered nurses in assessing pain in hip fracture in patients with dementia in the postoperative setting. Methods The study questionnaire contained 23 items mainly addressing demographic and social data, information about communication and pain assessment, attention and awareness of the health-care professionals on the ward and suggestions for improving nursing. Results The nurses claimed that they began their assessment of pain in patients with dementia first by observing the patient and making a visual assessment of pain, after which they began to communicate with these patients; majority of dementia patients with hip fractures displayed more facial expressions of pain than patients without dementia. All the nurses agreed that the more severe the patient's dementia was, the less clear the facial expressions and that this in turn made it difficult for the nurses to take care of such patients. Body language was the most common way the patients with dementia and hip fractures expressed their pain. Assessing the pain of a dementia patient with hip fracture and interpreting a non-verbally communicative patient was experienced as very difficult by all the nurses. Conclusion The nurses found that the fact that they had not attended any courses on dementia and pain assessment in those patients made their work more difficult; they need to know more and to have more information about those patients and their needs for a more comprehensive exchange of information between the hospital wards and the patients' care homes.