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Ismail Bejia

Publications and source records attributed to Ismail Bejia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Reproducibility of a low back pain questionnaire in Tunisian adolescents.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of a 28-item survey questionnaire for back problems in Tunisian adolescents. A test-retest design was used to investigate the reproducibility of the results obtained using the said 28-item survey questionnaire. Participants were recruited from two schools in Monastir. Seventy-two adolescents from the seventh, eighth, and the ninth grade participated in the inquiry. They have a mean age of 14.01 years (SD 1.67, range 11-19). High levels of reproducibility were found for items that evaluated perceived characteristics of back problems and functional limitation (kappa coefficient=0.71-1.00). The results suggest that the questionnaire used in the present study provided reproducible information and can be used as a survey tool for the investigation of low back problems in adolescents.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

[Validation of the Tunisian version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

METHODS: One hundred twenty two rheumatoid arthritis patients were consecutively included in the study. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 61 patients based on the intra-class correlation coefficient. RESULTS: for the 122 patients (104 female and 18 male) the median age was 47 years (18-70). The mean age of the patients who filled in the questionnaire at test and retest times was 45 years (18-70). Test- retest reliability of the HAQ was 0.84. Internal consistency was 0.94. There was a good correlation between the HAQ and the Lee index (r = 0.75, p <10(-4)), the HAQ and the RAQoL (rs = 0.96, p <10(-4)). In a logistic regression model Lee index, RAQoL and age account for the variance of the HAQ. CONCLUSION: The Tunisian version of the HAQ preserves the metrological properties of the original version and can be used for measuring and following functional abilities of Tunisian rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

[Search for crystals in synovial fluid].

Synovial fluid analysis is a very important diagnostic procedure in rheumatology. Cell count allows the differentiation ting between inflammatory arthritis, in which cell count exceeds 2000 cells/mm3, and non inflammatory arthropathy, in which cell count is less than 1000 cells/mm3. Demonstration of crystals in synovial fluid is a rapid and inexpensive way to diagnose microcrystalline arthritis. Synovial fluid must be examined under normal and polarized light. Monosodium urate crystals are negatively birefringent, whereas calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals are positively birefringent. Other crystals (cholesterol, oxalate, corticosteroids....) can also be identified in synovial fluid. Various artefacts must be avoided including anticoagulant crystals and synovial fluid must be anticoagulated with sodium heparin or citrate.

Calcium Oxalate↗
PubMed2006

[Inpatients satisfaction in a rheumatology department].

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospectivve study aiming to evaluate patients satisfaction included 102 patients (42 men and 60 women with a mean age of 49.7 years) admitted in the department of rhumatology of Monastir University hospital, and was based on a validated questionaire. RESULTS: Global satisfaction was 80%. Satisfation as regards administrative proceedings (e.g. admission procedure) reached 84%. As for the degrees of satisfaction concerning care, the environment (accomodation meals, noise) and reception, they were as follows : 79%, 81% and 91% respectively. The prioritis whide were considred as important but partly achieved by health care priveders included in formation of the patient's family (47%), of the family physician (23%), and of the patient (22%). CONCLUSION: Inpatients global satisfaction in a rheumatology department was 80 %. Priorities to improve patient quality of care were family, general practionner and patient information.

Female↗
PubMed2005

Measuring utilities by the time trade-off method in Tunisian rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility, reliability and validity of the time trade-off (TTO) in Tunisian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The TTO was used to measure the utility in 122 RA patients with increasing difficulty in performing activities of daily living. The 1-week test-retest reproducibility was studied in 57 patients using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Validity was evaluated by comparison with other outcome measures: utility rating scale (RS), quality of life (QOL) [arthritis impact measurement scale 2 (AIMS2), rheumatoid arthritis quality of life (RAQOL)], functional status [health assessment questionnaire (HAQ), Lee index] and disease activity score (DAS). Eight patients (6.6%) did not complete the TTO. The median value of the TTO score was 0.655 (0.019-1.000). The ICC for reliability of the TTO was 0.89 (p<0.001). The TTO showed poor to moderate correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficients between 0.2 and 0.409, p<0.01) with AIMS2, RAQOL, HAQ and Lee index. We did not find any correlation between TTO and DAS. Multiple regression analysis showed that only 32% of TTO scores could be explained. The TTO method appeared to be reliable in a group of Tunisian RA patients, but TTO values were poorly to moderately related to measures of QOL, functional ability, and disease activity. We think that TTO and RS are not feasible for use in RA patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2005

Lipoma arborescens affecting multiple joints.

Lipoma arborescens is a rare benign intra-articular lesion of unknown etiology that usually involves the suprapatellar pouch of the knee joint. Clinically, the most common finding is a slow-growing painless swelling, accompanied by intermittent effusion of the joint. We report a case of a multifocal lipoma arborescens localized in the knees and the hips in a 24-year-old man, initially mimicking an inflammatory arthropathy. The diagnosis of lipoma arborescens was made by magnetic resonance imaging of the hips and the knees. Under arthroscopic guidance, the synovial biopsy of the right knee disclosed the specific histological signs of lipoma arborescens. As far as we know, this is the third case of multifocal lipoma arborescens reported in the English literature.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Correlations between high-resolution computed tomography of the chest and clinical function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Prospective study in 75 patients.

INTRODUCTION: The contribution of computed tomography (CT) to the assessment of rheumatoid lung disease is universally recognized. Our objective was to define the usefulness of high-resolution CT (HRCT) in evaluating lung abnormalities in unselected patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine whether HRCT findings were correlated with clinical and lung function test (LFT) abnormalities. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively investigated HRCT findings in 75 consecutive RA patients and looked for correlations with clinical, radiological, blood gas, and LFT variables. The 63 women and 12 men had a mean age of 48+/-14 years and a mean disease duration of 8+/-88 months (2 months-27 years). Most of the patients (77.3%) had no known history of respiratory disease. RESULTS: Respiratory symptoms were noted in one third of patients. HRCT findings were abnormal in 49.3% of patients, showing interstitial disease in 28% and bronchiectasis in 18.7%. Advanced fibrosis was not noted. One patient had bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia and another had constrictive bronchiolitis. Smaller proportions of patients had emphysema (13.3%), alveolar involvement (12%), pleural involvement (9.3%), or rheumatoid nodules (4%). HRCT findings were abnormal in 48.6% of the patients with no respiratory symptoms. Factors significantly associated with HRCT abnormalities were age older than 40 years, positive tests for IgM rheumatoid factors, hypoxia at rest, and LFT evidence of distal airway disease. Neither Sjogren's syndrome nor RA duration was significantly associated with the risk of HRCT abnormalities. CONCLUSION: In our population of unselected RA patients, HRCT proved sensitive in detecting abnormalities that were clinically silent and missed by plain radiography. Correlations between HRCT abnormalities and results of other investigations were inconsistent. Thus, these various investigations may complement one another.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence and factors associated to low back pain among hospital staff.

OBJECTIVES: Because of its frequency and consequences on professional life, low back pain (LBP) represents a real health care problem. Our study is aimed at determining the prevalence of LBP among hospital staff, analyzing the medical and professional consequences as well as investigating into the factors associated to this health problem. METHODS: We have conducted an inquiry among 350 employees at Fattouma Bourguiba teaching hospital. The employees have answered a pre-established questionnaire including 51 items. RESULTS: The cumulative life-prevalence was 57.7% of the cases. The annual prevalence was 51.1% of the cases. Chronic LBP prevalence was 12.8% of the cases. Medical care was required in 61.9% of the cases. Radiological explorations were performed in 45% of the cases. Sick leave was observed in 26.1% of the cases and an occupational change was necessary in two cases. Factors associated to LBP were age (P <0.01), female gender (P = 0.024), high BMI (P = 0.01), the fact of being married or divorced (P < 0.01), smoking (P = 0.016), past medical LBP history (P < 0.0001), extra professional activity (P < 0.01), migraine (P < 0.001), years' service (P = 0.007) as well as heavy weight lifting (P = 0.008). Exercise is rather a protecting factor against LBP (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LBP among hospital staff as well as the socio-professional drawbacks is important. Many factors are associated to LBP urging medical teams to take some preventive measures to reduce this affliction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Predictifs factors of the algodystrophy evolution in a rheumatology department among 60 cases].

We analysed 60 cases of algodystrophy admitted in the rheumatology department of the university hospital of Monastir. We used a univariate analysis to search the factors associated with the disease evolution. Our patients were 40 males and 20 females. The mean age was 51.6 ans (16 - 81). The traumatisme was the dominant cause (46.7% of the cases). Calcitonines were used in 70% of the cases. Functional results at one year were satisfying and not satisfying in 62.5% and 37.5% of the cases, respectively. The primitive algodystrophy was associated with a satisfying result. Sequella were observed in 10.5% of the cases. The primitive algodystrophy was associated with a satisfying result. Algodystrophy remain a benign disease and the best treatment remains the preventive one mainly in traumatic and orthopaedic circumstances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Pelvic morphology and lumbar spondylolisthesis].

Pelvic morphology is involved in the genesis of spondylolisthesis. The mean age of patients with spondylolisthesis was 57.9 +/- 9.5 years (40-81). 14 were complaining of low back pain and 12 had sciatica. Spondylolisthesis was in stage 1 in 75% of the cases and in stage 2 in 25% of the cases. Low lordosis was observed in patients and controls in 73% and 100% of the cases respectively. Sacral slops was slightly higher in patients than in controls and was higher than 40 degrees in patients and controls at a rate of 35% and 25% respectively. The incidence was higher in patients than in controls. There was a high pelvic retroversion in patients than in controls. High incidence and pelvic retroversion were found in patients with spondylolisthesis and pelvic morphology was probably involved in the genesis of spondylolisthesis.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Low back pain in a cohort of 622 Tunisian schoolchildren and adolescents: an epidemiological study.

Low back pain (LBP) in children was considered for many years to be a rare condition revealing a serious disease, but in the last two decades, epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of nonspecific LBP in children is high. This study was aimed at analyzing the prevalence, severity, consequences and associated factors of LBP in children. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in two preparatory schools in the city of Monastir, Tunisia, in April 2002. This study included a total of 622 children and adolescents--326 females and 296 males--with a mean age of 14 years (range: 11-19 years). They completed the questionnaire in the presence of the physician. For the first 201 questionnaires collected, the corresponding children and adolescents underwent a spine medical examination, with evaluation of pain by visual analog scale if LBP was present. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the risk factors associated with LBP and chronic LBP. The cumulative lifetime prevalence of LBP was 28.4%. Eight percent of the subjects suffered from chronic LBP. LBP was responsible for 23% of school absenteeism and 29% for sports absenteeism. Medical care requirement was observed in 32.2% and psychological symptoms in 75%. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that three factors were associated with LBP: school failure (held back 1 year), odds ratio (OR) =2.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96-3.44), family history of LBP (parental or sibling LBP), OR=3.80 (95% CI, 2.94-5.92), dissatisfaction with school chair (in height and comfort), OR=3.40 (95% CI, 2.24-5.29). Two factors were associated with chronic LBP: dissatisfaction with school chair, OR=1.62 (95% CI, 1.46-3.32) and football playing, OR=3.07 (95% CI, 2.15-5.10). The prevalence of LBP among Tunisian schoolchildren and adolescents is high. This requires preventive measures and longitudinal studies, which are very important from the standpoint of public health.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2004

Validation of the Tunisian version of the Roland-Morris questionnaire.

Our aim was to validate a culturally adapted, Tunisian-language version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), which is a reliable evaluation instrument for low-back-pain disability. A total of 62 patients with low back pain were assessed by the questionnaire. Reliability for the 1-week test/re-test was assessed by a construction of a Bland Altman plot. Internal construct validity was assessed by Cronbach's alphatest. External construct validity was assessed by association with pain, the Schober test and the General Function Score. Sensitivity to change was determined using a t-test for paired data to compare RMDQ scores at inclusion and at completion of the therapeutic sequence of local corticosteroid injections. We also compared the questionnaire score with the General Function Score, both taken after completion of the therapeutic sequence. The constructed Bland Altman plot showed good reliability. Internal consistency of the RMDQ was found to be very good and the Cronbach's alpha test was 0.94, indicating a good internal construct validity. The questionnaire is correlated with the pain visual analogue scale (r=33; p=0.0001), with the Schober test (r=0.27; p=0.0001) and the General Function Score (r=56; p=0.0001) indicating an adequate external construct validity. The RMDQ administered after the therapeutic sequence is sensitive to change (r=0.83; p=0.000). Comparison of the questionnaire score to the General Function Score, after completion of the therapeutic sequence, was satisfactory (r=0.75; p=0.000). We conclude that the Tunisian version of the Roland-Morris questionnaire has good reliability and internal consistency. Furthermore, it has a good internal- and external construct validity and high sensitivity to change. It is an adequate and useful tool for assessing low-back-pain disability.

Disability Evaluation↗
PubMed2004

Factors predicting outcomes of mechanical sciatica: a review of 1092 cases.

UNLABELLED: As an extremely common symptom and major source of lost productivity, mechanical sciatica places a heavy burden on public health. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 1092 medical records to determine the epidemiological, clinical, imaging study, and therapeutic characteristics of mechanical sciatica. We also looked for factors associated with adverse outcomes. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 45.0 +/- 13.3 years, and 61.8% of patients were women. A history of low back pain was noted in 35.2% of cases. A single nerve root was involved in 68% of cases, and L5 was the most commonly affected root. Disk herniation was the cause in 58.4% of patients. First-line conservative treatment provided relief in 75% of cases, and the overall 6-month outcome was favorable in 76.5% of cases. CONCLUSION: The multivariate analysis conducted in the overall patient population showed that factors associated with adverse 6-month outcomes were heavy labor (odds ratio (OR) = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.01-2.86; P = 0.049) and obesity (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.01-2.47; P = 0.05).

Adolescent↗