Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2020
ReviewThe Emergent Evaluation and Treatment of Elbow and Forearm Injuries.
This article provides an updated review of the emergent evalution and treatment of elbow and forearm injuries in the emergency department. Clinically necessary imaging is discussed. Common and uncommon injuries of the elbow and forearm are reviewed with an emphasis on early recognition, efficient management, and avoidance of complications. The astute emergency physician will rely on a focused history and precise examination, applied anatomic knowledge, and strong radiographic interpretative skills to avoid missed injuries and complications.
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Traumatic injuries of the hip and pelvis are commonly encountered in the emergency department. This article equips all emergency medicine practitioners with the knowledge to expertly diagnose, treat, and disposition these patients. Pelvic fractures occurring in young patients tend to be associated with high-energy mechanisms and polytrauma. Pelvic and hip fractures in the elderly are often a result of benign trauma but are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
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With the high cost and limited availability of gold standard imaging modalities, ultrasound has become an alternative in many musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries. Ultrasound has become increasingly portable and readily available in many acute care settings. ⋯ It helps guide fracture and dislocation reductions and aids in regional anesthesia for pain management. This article reviews the common MSK injuries that can be diagnosed with ultrasound with a focus on point-of-care ultrasound.
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Knee and leg injuries are extremely common presentations to the emergency department. Understanding the anatomy of the knee, particularly the vasculature and ligamentous structures, can help emergency physicians (EPs) diagnose and manage these injuries. Use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography can further aid EPs through the diagnostic process. Proper use of knee immobilizers can also improve long-term patient outcomes.
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Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. · Feb 2020
ReviewEmergency Medicine Orthopedic Assessment: Pearls and Pitfalls.
Acute musculoskeletal injuries are commonly seen in our emergency departments, and are commonly missed. There are many reasons for more missed injures and a significant one is over-reliance on radiographs. ⋯ That injury must be understood in the context of the patient, because older and much younger patients have weaker bone. Finally, the physical examination is instrumental in localizing the pathology and is essential to put radiograph results in the proper clinical context.