Publications

Medicine, Conflict and Survival

November 14, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Venugopal K, Ibsais A, Abu Alamrain A, Abu Shammala A, Ghali A, Leister M, Khawaja H, Fikry K, Obeid H, Sammour AAK, Seliga A, Venugopal M, Lulu I, Hamawy A

Irfan B, Ghali A, Hamawy A

32

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has created unprecedented challenges in paediatric trauma care, exposing the limitations of oft-championed traditional bioethical frameworks in conflict settings.

Featured

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

October 1, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Abu Dalal H, Irfan B, Elmanama A

3

Gaza’s health-care system has faced widespread destruction during the ongoing Israeli military invasion that began in October, 2023, leading to a proliferation of disease outbreaks.

Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery

October 1, 2025

Case series

Conflict & humanitarian health

Sammour AAK, Muhaisen D, Musallam R, Abudagga R, Alshaer N, Braika F, Tabash M, Lulu E, Al-Shembari A, Tahir M

Alshaer N, Tahir M

8

Neuropathic pain from peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) poses a major challenge, especially in conflict zones. Surgical neurolysis is a known intervention for pain due to nerve scarring and compression, but its impact in resource-limited…

Featured

Antibiotics

September 2, 2025

Case series

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Hamawy A, Musallam R, Abudagga R, Khan S, Alshaer N, Tabash M, Ghali A, Saleh K, Tahir M

Irfan B, Hamawy A, Alshaer N, Tahir M, Ghali A, Saleh K

14

This case series examines the feasibility and outcomes of using a multi-tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) powder as an adjunct to standard wound care in a conflict zone.

Featured

Medicine, Conflict and Survival

August 26, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Alser O, Al Laham N, Zughbur MR, Ibsais A, Raheel M, Venugopal K, Tarab B, Ghali A, Abu Shammala A

Irfan B, Ghali A

16

In the chaos of conflict zones like Gaza, medical research ethics faces unprecedented challenges. The traditional pillars of informed consent and institutional review boards (IRB) oversight often crumble under the weight of humanitarian…

Digital Health

August 21, 2025

Original research

Digital health, ethics & policy

Ali S, Irfan B, Abdeljaber W, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Irfan B, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

9

Digital health technology (DHT) has become an important aspect of healthcare systems due to its ability to improve patient outcomes and access to patient data, thereby increasing provider efficiency.

Frontiers in Medicine

August 20, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Digital health, ethics & policy

Irfan B, Sirvent R

Irfan B

5

Large language model (LLM) chatbots such as ChatGPT have moved from being a representation of technological novelty to working in clinical conversation in scarcely two years, fuelling hopes that conversational artificial intelligence…

Frontiers in Public Health

July 2, 2025

Original research

Conflict & humanitarian health

Alamrain AA, Halimy M, Toman H, Kassab A, Alkhaldi M, Alderdasawe Y, Abuaita M, Alzayyan A, Tahir M, Harb AI

Tahir M

9

The war in Gaza has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and severely impacted the healthcare system. It has overwhelmed orthopedic care at Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, the only public hospital serving the middle region of the…

Featured

Medicine, Conflict and Survival

June 5, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Clarisse A, Smith J, Tahir M, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Tarab B, Lulu I, Alshaer N, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Irfan B, Tahir M, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Alshaer N, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

10

Towards the end of 2024, evacuating patients from Gaza for essential – and often lifesaving – medical and surgical care had become a near-impossible task.

Featured

British Journal of Anaesthesia

June 1, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Abukarsh I, Abu Motlaq A, Atallah A, Irfan B, Khan S, Kattan A, Hamawy A

Irfan B, Hamawy A

3

The scarcity of medical resources available amidst the Israeli military assault on Gaza necessitates innovative approaches to healthcare delivery.

Featured

International Journal of Public Health

May 22, 2025

Original research

Conflict & humanitarian health

Wajahath M, Nasser E, Nayfeh T, Irfan B, Balasundaram R, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Wajahath M, Nasser E, Saleh KJ

10

To categorize and analyze trauma cases from the Gaza war, identifying injury patterns and informing future humanitarian efforts in conflict zones.

The Lancet Healthy Longevity

May 1, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Abu Alamrain A, Abu Shammala A

Irfan B

2

The ongoing Gaza war, which began in late 2023 and continues into 2025, has disrupted health-care delivery for older adults (ie, >60 years) and threatens their prospects for healthy longevity.

International Orthopaedics

April 1, 2025

Original research

Conflict & humanitarian health

Ghali A, Hafeez H, Alamrain AA, Smadi Z, Qasim T, Irfan B, Perlmutter M, Elaydi A

Ghali A, Irfan B

9

The aim is to showcase the urgent need for improved data infrastructure and international collaboration by highlighting the barriers to comprehensive orthopaedic documentation and quantifying the scope and nature of scholarly research…

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

March 4, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Ghali A, Nasser E, Nasser T, Elaydi A, Irfan B, Nasser M, Saleh K

Ghali A, Nasser E, Irfan B, Nasser M, Saleh K

2

Since the beginning of the current Gaza-Israel conflict in October 2023, over 62 000 Palestinians have been killed, including over 10 000 children, and more than 100 000 have been injured.

Ethics, Medicine and Public Health

January 1, 2025

Commentary & correspondence

Digital health, ethics & policy

Irfan B, Sirvent RD

Irfan B

Ear, Nose & Throat Journal

December 21, 2024

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Al-Hasan M, Abu Alamrain A, Aljamal A, Al-Khaldi M, Shaikhkhalil H, Abu Shammala A, Sammour AAK, Alshaer N, Braika F, Tabash M, Musallam R, Al-Shembari A, Abudagga R, Elkhalout K, Obeid H, Lulu I, Tafesh I, Ghali A

Irfan B

3

Data collection is a cornerstone of effective healthcare delivery and research. This need is especially true in active conflict zones, where data collection is vital to informing responses on the ground, documenting civilian injury…

International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics

December 14, 2024

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Abu Shammala A, Saleh KJ

Irfan B, Saleh KJ

2

The study highlights the devastating impact of Gaza's healthcare collapse on maternal health, revealing widespread preventable deaths, stillbirths, miscarriages, and severe pregnancy complications.

Featured

World Medical & Health Policy

November 6, 2024

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Lulu I, Hamawy A, Shammala AA, Kullab S, Fawaz M, Sammour AA, Khawaja H, Alshaer N, Abu‐Sittah G, Alser O, Perlmutter M, Al‐Shembari A, Hickey J, Nayfeh T, Tahir M, Sultan MJ, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Yaqoob A, Hasan A, Elaydi A, Ghali A, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Irfan B, Hamawy A, Alshaer N, Tahir M, Hasan A, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Ghali A, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

26

The ongoing Israeli military assault on Gaza has caused a devastating collapse of healthcare infrastructure, resulting in an unprecedented surge in infectious diseases.

Featured

Surgeries

November 4, 2024

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Pearl A, O’Neil K, Jaafil S, Khoury Z, Hasan A, Saleh K

Pearl A, Hasan A, Saleh K

13

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) impedes the ability to recover from lower extremity arthroplasties (LEA) while simultaneously increasing risks of peri- and postoperative complications, morbidity, and mortality.

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease

November 3, 2024

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Abu Shammala A, Alshaer N, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Hamawy A, Tahir M, Khawaja H, Khan O, Fikry K, Kaleem A, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Irfan B, Alshaer N, Nasser E, Wajahath M, Hamawy A, Tahir M, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

4

This editorial highlights the devastating impact of the ongoing Israeli military assault in Gaza on dementia patients, whose fragile care systems have collapsed, leaving them vulnerable and without essential medical support.

Featured

The Lancet

November 1, 2024

Commentary & correspondence

Conflict & humanitarian health

Irfan B, Abu Shammala A, Saleh K

Irfan B, Saleh K

Antibiotics

October 30, 2024

Original research

Medical missions

Nasser E, Alshaer N, Wajahath M, Irfan B, Tahir M, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Nasser E, Alshaer N, Wajahath M, Irfan B, Tahir M, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

11

Fracture-related infections (FRIs) are a significant complication in conflict zones, where limited resources and damaged infrastructure complicate orthopedic care.

Featured

Journal of Hospital Infection

October 1, 2024

Commentary & correspondence

Medical missions

Irfan B, Sultan MJ, Khawaja H, Wajahath M, Nasser E, Hasan AI, Fawaz M, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

Irfan B, Wajahath M, Nasser E, Hasan AI, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

3

Our recent medical mission trips to Gaza European Hospital (EGH) in Khan Younis revealed a dire need for improved infection control measures to mitigate the spread of infectious disease.

JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews

June 1, 2024

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Momtaz D, Ghilzai U, Okpara S, Ghali A, Gonuguntla R, Kotzur T, Zhu K, Seifi A, Rose R

Ghali A

7

Patients who leave against medical advice (AMA) face increased risks of negative health outcomes, presenting a challenge for healthcare systems.

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease

May 13, 2024

Review

Digital health, ethics & policy

Irfan B, Ankouni G, Reader J, Seraji-Bozorgzad N, Giordani B, Bakulski K, Bhaumik A, Hampstead BM, Rahman-Filipiak A

Irfan B

11

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) present significant challenges including cognitive and functional loss, behavioral disruption, emotional distress, and significant financial burden.

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery

May 9, 2024

Original research

Medical missions

Hasan AI, Wajahath M, Nasser E, Nasser M, Saleh KJ, the FAJR Scientific Research Collaborative

Hasan AI, Wajahath M, Nasser E, Nasser M, Saleh KJ

12

Global medical mission trips have become a prevalent practice for physicians seeking to provide orthopaedic surgical care to underserved populations around the world.

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

April 17, 2024

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Lee Satcher R, Fiedler B, Ghali A, Dirschl DR

Ghali A

7

With National Aeronautics and Space Administration's plans for longer distance, longer duration spaceflights such as missions to Mars and the surge in popularity of space tourism, the need to better understand the effects of spaceflight…

Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow

March 1, 2024

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Ghilzai U, Ghali A, Singh A, Mitchell TW, Mitchell SA

Ghali A

8

Gunshot-related fractures near the elbow are challenging, and available data to guide the practitioner are lacking. This report analyzes injury patterns and treatment strategies in a case series from a high-volume urban trauma center.

Journal of Opioid Management

February 8, 2024

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Hasan A, Pearl A, Daher M, Saleh KJ

Hasan A, Pearl A, Saleh KJ

Orthopedic surgical procedures are expected to increase annually, making it imperative to understand the correlations between patient genetic makeup and post-operative pain levels.

Arthroplasty

February 4, 2024

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Momtaz D, Okpara S, Martinez A, Cushing T, Ghali A, Gonuguntla R, Kotzur T, Duruewuru A, Harris M, Seifi A, Harrington M

Ghali A

7

This study aimed to develop a modified frailty index (MFI) to predict the risks of revision total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Spine Surgery and Related Research

January 27, 2024

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Ghali A, Momtaz D, Kotzur T, Gonuguntla R, Wang R, Santiago-Rodriquez AC, Phan EN, Seifi A, Hanson D

Ghali A

8

Leaving against medical advice (AMA) has been associated with higher rates of readmission and worse postoperative outcomes in various surgical fields.

Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery

January 1, 2024

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Okpara S, Lee T, Pathare N, Ghali A, Momtaz D, Ihekweazu U

Ghali A

10

Cardiovascular comorbidities have been identified as a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes following surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate its prevalence and impact on postoperative outcomes, hospital metrics…

Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow

December 1, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Momtaz D, Ahmad F, Singh A, Song E, Slocum D, Ghali A, Abdelfattah A

Ghali A

6

Total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is uncommon, but growing in incidence. Traditionally an inpatient operation, a growing number are performed outpatient, consistent with general trends in orthopedic surgery.

Cureus

October 26, 2023

Original research

Digital health, ethics & policy

Irfan B, Yaqoob A

Irfan B

11

The rise of artificial intelligence in medical practice is reshaping clinical care. Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have the potential to assist in rheumatology by personalizing scientific information retrieval, particularly…

Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

October 16, 2023

Review

Medical missions

Pearl A, Saleh K

Pearl A, Saleh K

6

Many physicians chose to pursue years of rigorous medical training because of an innate desire to care for others, which often translates into volunteering in their local communities.

International Journal of Spine Surgery

September 28, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Ghali A, Prabhakar G, Momtaz D, Ahmad F, Abbas A, Shamim M, Issa M, Bora V, Chaput C

Ghali A

8

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common procedure for neck arthritis, typically alleviating pain and improving function.

Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation

July 10, 2023

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Pearl A, Ismail A, Alsadi T, Crespi Z, Daher M, Saleh K

Pearl A, Saleh K

8

Total joint arthroplasties are among the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Although numerous safeguards are in place to optimize patient health and safety pre-, intra-, and postoperatively, patient frailty…

JBJS Open Access

July 1, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Heath DM, Ghali AN, Momtaz DA, Nagel S, Gonuguntla R, Menon S, Krishnakumar HN, Landrum MR, Hogue GD

Ghali AN

8

Fractures account for 10% to 25% of all pediatric injuries, and surgical treatment is common. In such cases, postoperative healing can be affected by a number of factors, including those related to socioeconomic status (SES).

International Orthopaedics

June 19, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Ghali AN, Venugopal V, Montgomery N, Cornaghie M, Ghilzai U, Batiste A, Mitchell S, Dawson J

Ghali AN

6

There is a paucity of literature on infections in civilian gunshot associated with long bone fractures with the reported rates ranging from 0–15.7%. This study aimed to investigate the rates of infection associated with long bone fractures caused by civilian gunshots.

Journal of Wrist Surgery

June 16, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Momtaz D, Ghali A, Ahmad F, Gonuguntla R, Kotzur T, Wang RJ, Ghilzai U, Abbas A, Wu C

Ghali A

7

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are among the most common orthopaedic injuries. The prevalence of DRFs is increasing across all age groups but remains the second most common fracture in the elderly.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open

June 1, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Gonuguntla R, Ghali A, Prabhakar G, Momtaz D, Ahmad F, Slocum D, Kotzur T, Cushing T, Saydawi A, Wu C

Ghali A

The rate and severity of obesity has risen over the past 40 years, and class III (formerly morbid) obesity presents additional sequelae.

JAAOS: Global Research and Reviews

February 1, 2023

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Momtaz D, Ghali A, Gonuguntla R, Kotzur T, Ahmad F, Arce A, Olvera A, Brady C, Rose R

Ghali A

7

Since the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020, COVID-19 has pressured the healthcare system. Elective orthopaedic procedures for American seniors were canceled, delayed, or altered because of lockdown…

Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery

January 1, 2023

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Daher M, Pearl A, Zalaquett Z, Elhassan BT, Abboud JA, Fares MY, Saleh KJ

Pearl A

9

The best course of action for massive irreparable rotator cuff tears (MIRCTs) is not universally agreed upon. Numerous surgical techniques have been discussed.

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

October 9, 2022

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Krishnakumar HN, Momtaz DA, Sherwani A, Mhapankar A, Gonuguntla RK, Maleki A, Abbas A, Ghali AN, Al Afif A

Ghali AN

5

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of COVID-19 which was detected in late 2019 in Wuhan, China.

Global Spine Journal

September 13, 2022

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Momtaz D, Prabhakar G, Gonuguntla R, Ahmad F, Ghali A, Kotzur T, Nagel S, Chaput C

Ghali A

8

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most common procedures for cervical diseases often with reliable outcomes.

Antibiotics

September 2, 2022

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Hijazi A, Hasan A, Pearl A, Memon R, Debeau M, Roldan M, Awad ME, Abdul-Kabir E, Saleh KJ

Hasan A, Pearl A, Saleh KJ

11

The number of orthopedic procedures, especially prosthesis implantation, continues to increase annually, making it imperative to understand the risks of perioperative complications.

The Spine Journal

September 1, 2022

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Prabhakar G, Mills G, Momtaz D, Ghali A, Chaput C

Ghali A

5

Atlanto-occipital dissociation (AOD) has historically been considered a fatal injury. Recent small case series, however, have suggested that AOD injuries have become increasingly survivable.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open

July 8, 2022

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Prabhakar G, Ghali A, Momtaz D, Rose R

Ghali A

5

Carpal tunnel release is a life-changing procedure within hand surgery. Multiple factors may have an impact on the outcome following surgery.

JBJS Reviews

March 1, 2022

Review

Clinical & surgical research

Crespi Z, Hasan AI, Pearl A, Ismail A, Awad ME, Irfan FB, Jaffar M, Patel P, Saleh KJ

Hasan AI, Pearl A, Saleh KJ

12

In 2016, a total of 48,771 hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) were reported in U.S. hospitals, resulting in an excess cost of more than $2 billion — roughly $40,000 per patient with an HAC.

Journal of Orthopaedic Experience & Innovation

June 3, 2021

Original research

Clinical & surgical research

Navarro RA, Mellano CR, Sievers DA, Harrast JJ, Carpenter JE, Jackson KR, Dillon MT

11

Recent literature has described an increase in overall rates of shoulder arthroplasty procedures being performed. To date few reports have characterized the yearly trended earliest incidence of introduction of the then innovative…