Military medicine
-
United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadets are at risk for sustaining concussions; however, several factors inhibit disclosure. We aimed to better understand the role of social support in concussion disclosure. ⋯ Our results suggested that cadets felt comfortable reporting a suspected concussion or bell-ringer/ding to various peers and that those peers would be supportive of that choice, indicating social support. Future interventions should include educating cadets that peers may come to them, especially if they are AOCs/AMTs or squadmates.
-
Femtosecond-assisted thin flap, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin-C (PRK-MMC) are the two most common refractive surgical procedures used to enhance visual capability in the U.S military. The purposes of the study were to examine effects on quality of vision following LASIK and PRK-MMC using a novel computer-based quick contrast sensitivity function (qCSF) test. ⋯ Quality of vision recovers at postoperative 1 week after LASIK and at postoperative 1 month after PRK-MMC. The standard black-on-white high-contrast, chart-based visual acuity test is weak in predicting quality of vision. The qCSF detects mild-to-moderate visual changes and is suitable for quality of vision assessment following refractive eye surgery.
-
Given the public health toll exacted by the Opioid Crisis, it is important for providers in all disciplines to examine their opioid prescribing patterns to see where opioid reduction strategies can be effectively employed. Limiting the impact of the Opioid Crisis on active duty service members is a critical component of maintaining a ready fighting force. One avenue for reducing the potential for opioid diversion and abuse is developing and implementing non-opioid postsurgical pain management strategies that both provide adequate pain relief and also ensure an expedient return to full duty. ⋯ This change was accompanied by a concerted education effort aimed at both providers and patients on the benefits of avoiding opioids as well as the importance of strict adherence to a standardized medication dosing regimen for efficacious non-opioid pain control consisting of maximum doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen taken every six hours. No increase in convalescent time off and no increase in postoperative visits related to pain control were noted. In our experience, eliminating routine post-procedure opioids for dentoalveolar surgery was a viable strategy for reducing the potential for opioid diversion and abuse among our patients with no negative impact on the operational and training tempo of the associated command.
-
Traumatic injuries were the most common reason for admission of pediatric patients to military hospitals during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We compare survival and interventions between female and male pediatric casualties. ⋯ Among pediatric patients treated by U.S. medical personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan, females had a lower survival to hospital discharge despite similar severity of injury. Further studies are necessary to elucidate causes for this finding.
-
Editorial Comment Letter
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Defense Force Personnel: Correspondence.