Military medicine
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The propensity for air mobility missions to exhaust aircrews is strongly dependent on operational tempo. Most flying is performed during periods of low to moderate operational tempo, but a major flight safety risk can emerge when operational tempo becomes very high. This risk can be managed by software tools that contain fatigue and sleep behavior modeling, but optimization/validation of the model using the specific target population is required to ensure that the modeled predictions are accurate. The goal of the study was to validate the sleep behavior model settings for a fatigue modeling tool that is used within the RCAF, the Fatigue Avoidance Scheduling Tool, taking into account the organizational requirements for pre- and postflight routines, especially within the Air Mobility force. ⋯ Current Fatigue Risk Management Systems require accurate fatigue and sleep behavior modeling, which can only be achieved by studying specific target populations to determine their culture of work/rest routines, and optimizing sleep behavior model settings accordingly.
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After a vehicle rollover led to the death of a military member in Central Africa in 2018, it became apparent there was a significant gap in the capability to collect toxicology samples of Service Members involved in accidents and mishaps at remote Special Operations Forces locations in Africa. Multiple misconceptions surrounding sample collection, procedures for laboratory evaluation, and methods for shipment signaled the importance of establishing a procedure and a plan to provide the necessary medical inventory to properly collect and ship samples. ⋯ SOCAFRICA established a prepared kit with all of the materials for sample collection, accompanied by step-by-step descriptions of the procedure, and clear guidance on the proper completion of the requisite paperwork that meets medico-legal requirements.
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The purpose of this study to analyze the financial impact of choosing a civilian or military orthopedic surgery career. It will examine the most common scenarios to become an orthopedic surgeon in the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program to include becoming a flight surgeon. To the authors' knowledge, there is no peer-reviewed literature that financially analyzes the most common scenarios for a Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program scholarship recipient to become an orthopedic surgeon. ⋯ It was found that the shorter tours in the Navy had a higher net FV than those who made the Navy a career in orthopedic surgery. Flight surgery is a rewarding operational experience with among the highest net FV among Navy scenarios and is only slightly less than the net FV of a pure civilian career. However, it can be more difficult to apply for civilian orthopedic surgery after serving a flight surgeon tour. Lastly, the net FV was very similar between a civilian orthopedic surgeon career and the shorter tours served in the Navy. Factors such as higher civilian income with associated loan repayment/signing bonuses makes the civilian orthopedic surgery route the best financial option. This study will help those medical students considering a military versus a civilian career in orthopedic surgery and aid in Department of Defense recruitment/retention.
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We discuss a 23-year-old active duty male who presented to the emergency department with left shoulder pain after deadlifting heavy weights the day prior. His physical examination revealed a nontender and otherwise unremarkable left shoulder with full range of motion and mild tenderness to palpation in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. ⋯ This is the first case report of atraumatic splenic laceration after heavy weight lifting. This case illustrates the importance of a broad differential and high index of suspicion in the patient with undifferentiated abdominal pain in order to diagnose a potentially fatal disease.