Introduction “Sleeping Beauties” (SBs) are articles that receive little attention in the literature for many years after publication but suddenly “awaken” at a later date to greatly increased relevance. This effort represents the first attempt at identifying SBs within the otolaryngology literature. Methods The Web of Science Database was queried for all papers under the section “Otolaryngology” between 1945 and 2007. All papers were assigned a “Beauty Coefficient” (B), based on an a priori formula. Three groups were analyzed: 1) highest overall SBs, 2) clinically significant SBs (papers with greater than 100 total citations), and 3) modern SBs (published 1988 and later). Results 80,532 papers were identified, with SB able to be calculated in 79,523. Papers spanned a wide array of topics within the Otolaryngology literature. Unlike analysis of SBs in other disciplines, no obvious patterns or themes appeared consistently within or between any of the three groups. Conclusions This study represents the first known analysis of SBs in our field. While no obvious patterns or unifying themes were observed, this analysis highlights the clinical impact of SBs and underscores the idea that in this surgical field, important ideas may be proposed “ahead of their time.” Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 130:609–614, 2020
Introduction Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability in the developed world. Less is known about the impact of LBP in the developing world, and particularly the rural developing world. In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent call for additional research into the prevalence and effect of LBP on developing world populations. Objective To calculate the prevalence of LBP in a rural Ghana primary care clinic population. Design Survey of LBP prevalence and severity. Setting Primary care mission clinic in rural Southeastern Ghana. Participants Six hundred eighty‐four adult patients. Methods All adult patients were screened for LBP using the definition “any pain occurring within the region between the lower margin of the 12th ribs and the gluteal folds.” The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to further characterize LBP in those screening positive. Chi‐square test was used to assess statistical significance of difference in prevalence between groups, and ordinary least squares regression was used to assess the relationship between LBP severity and gender and age. Main Outcome Measurements LBP prevalence and LBP severity as assessed using the ODI. Results Overall LBP prevalence was 15.7%, with no statistically significant differences observed by age or gender. The activities of standing, traveling, and walking were most severely affected. Of those with LBP, 10.3% were considered “crippled” based on ODI responses, whereas a further 31.8% were “severely disabled.” No statistically significant relationship between LBP severity and age or gender was found. Conclusions LBP is a cause of significant disability within this region of rural Ghana; however, prevalence appears to be lower than in the developed world and parts of the urbanized developing world. Increased attention to screening and treatment of LBP represents an opportunity to improve the health of rural Africans. Level of Evidence IV.
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