Military medicine
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Comparative Study
Relationship between mechanism of injury and neurocognitive functioning in OEF/OIF service members with mild traumatic brain injuries.
Military personnel deployed to combat theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan are at risk of sustaining mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) from causes such as improvised explosive devices, motor vehicle accidents, and falls. Despite the high incidence of mTBI in deployed personnel, questions remain about the effects of blast-related vs. non-blast-related mTBI on acute and long-term sequelae. This investigation is a retrospective review of service members who presented for evaluation of suspected mTBI and underwent neurocognitive screening evaluation, mTBI diagnosis was made by semistructured clinical interview. ⋯ There were no differences between the blast-related and non-blast-related mTBI groups on age, time since injury, combat stress symptoms, or headache. Analysis of variance showed no significant between-group differences on any of the neurocognitive performance domains. Although speculation remains that the effects of primary blast exposure are unique, the results of this study are consistent with prior research suggesting that blast-related mTBI does not differ from other mechanisms of injury with respect to cognitive sequelae in the postacute phase.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The effects of a human patient simulator vs. a CD-ROM on performance.
Military health care personnel need to have skills relative to caring for patients on the battlefield. No studies have compared the two teaching strategies of using the human patient simulator (HPS) and a CD-ROM in caring for combat injuries. The objective of this study was to determine if there were statistically significant differences in HPS and CD-ROM educational strategies relative to caring for patients who have trauma. ⋯ In this study, the HPS method of instruction was a more effective method of teaching than the CD-ROM approach.
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To characterize noncombat injury/illness, determine changes in physical fitness, and evaluate the influence of these changes on medical resource utilization by National Guard (NG) Soldiers. ⋯ The predominate noncombat medical issue was musculoskeletal injury. NG Soldiers improved their body composition, strength, and endurance but experienced significant declines in aerobic fitness while deployed. These data document the association between declining aerobic fitness and increased utilization of medical resources.
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Case Reports
Chinese scalp acupuncture relieves pain and restores function in complex regional pain syndrome.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can result from trauma or after surgery. It is often difficult to manage effectively. If not recognized early, it can result in significant debilitation. ⋯ Notably, the pain reduction, functional improvement, and normalization of sensation have been fully maintained between treatments. The treatment response had been sustained at 20-month follow-up with no recurrence. CSA provided lasting pain reduction, and improved function and sensation in this group of combatants with upper extremity CRPS.