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Globalization has gone parallel to the evolution of the human societies. The current migration and immigration trends towards high-income countries resulted in societies with multi-ethnic backgrounds. This resulted in the introduction of diseases and pathology not com-monly encountered among those societies, placing challenges on the medical communities and treating physicians. Thus, it is essential for the medical communities to appreciate and under-stand the cultural differences. A brief overview on common orthopedic issues and the variation among different ethnic groups.
Keywords: genetics, lifestyle, environmental factors
noticed that back pain was 20% more common in African Caribbean, 60% more common in Indians and 50% more common in It is of great importance to consider the differences in patient’s Pakistanis and Bangladeshis than in European Caucasians.3 ethnic group and cultural variations in the management of such conditions. The implant designs should take into consideration There are several conditions that affect the spine the different anatomy variations worldwide. Cultural expectawhether degenerative or inflammatory. Looking at ankylosing tions in the management of some conditions should be taken into spondylitis (AS) as for example, it was suggested that AS is less account and should be discussed with patients. If, for example, common in people of Indian and African origin than in European a patient uses non-Western toilets with squatting position ends Caucasians.3 While it’s almost rare in the Middle East region. up with total knee replacement, this patient would have a poor outcome simply due to the fact that this would affect negatively There were not enough data to compare degenerative his daily activities. More studies would be required to compare spinal disorders to different ethnic groups. But like joint arthriprevalence and outcome taking into account ethnic variations. tis, in some Asian populations it would affect the outcome if the The health community must engage more directly in current surgical management affects patient’s future ability to perform research and policy on globalization and encourage values that squatting or floor sitting.
promote human health.
Spinal deformity is pathology not uncommon in the pe-