Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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More than half of pediatric malpractice cases arise from emergency departments, primarily due to missed or delayed diagnoses. All providers who take care of children in emergency departments should be aware of this risk and the most common diagnoses associated with medicolegal liability. ⋯ It highlights challenges and pitfalls that may increase risk of liability. It concludes with a discussion on recognition and management of abuse in children, including when to report and decisions on disposition.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · May 2020
ReviewEmergency Department Evaluation of the Adult Psychiatric Patient.
Many patients with acute behavioral or mental health emergencies use the emergency department for their care. Psychiatric patients have a higher incidence of chronic medical conditions and are at greater risk for injury than the general population. ⋯ This article addresses high-risk areas of the treatment and management of emergency department patients presenting with behavioral emergencies. This article identifies methods successful in determining whether the patient's behavioral emergency is the result of an organic disease process, as well as recognizing other potential acute medical emergencies in this high-risk population.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2020
ReviewThe Emergency Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Extremity Fractures.
Approximately one-third of children sustain a fracture before the age of 16 years; however, their unique anatomy and healing properties often result in a good outcome. This article focuses on the diagnosis and management of pediatric extremity injuries. The article describes the anatomic features and healing principles unique to children and discusses pediatric upper and lower extremity fractures and presents evidence-based and standard practice for their management. Finally, the article describes the conditions under which emergency physicians are likely to miss pediatric fractures by highlighting specific examples and discussing the general factors that lead to these errors.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2020
ReviewThe Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Neck and Back Pain.
Neck and back pain are among the most common symptom-related complaints for visits to the emergency department (ED). They contribute to high levels of lost work days, disability, and health care use. ⋯ This article discusses the efficient and effective evaluation, management, and treatment of patients with neck and back pain in the ED. Emphasis is placed on vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, acute transverse myelitis, epidural compression syndrome, spinal malignancy, and spinal stenosis.