Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · Feb 1996
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEye patch treatment for the pain of corneal abrasion.
The traditional use of patching and topical antibiotics in the treatment of corneal abrasion has recently been challenged, particularly after foreign body removal. In a prospective, controlled, randomized study of 33 patients treated in the emergency department for eye pain and corneal abrasion, we attempted to determine whether eye patching affected the pain of simple corneal abrasions. After fluorescein examination with magnification (x 5), a visual analog pain score was recorded and the patient was randomized to either the patched or nonpatched group. ⋯ There was no significant difference in the mean changes in pain scores between the patched and nonpatched groups. Analgesic use was also similar. We conclude that routine eye patching does not favorably affect the pain associated with the treatment of simple corneal abrasion.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 1996
Prevention of pediatric mortality from trauma: are current measures adequate?
Trauma accounts for nearly half of pediatric deaths in the United States. We reviewed all pediatric trauma-related deaths that occurred over a 5-year period at two Georgia trauma centers to determine the number of trauma deaths in children, mechanism of injury, cause of death, and compliance with safety standards. Of the 69 fatalities, 31 were caused by motor vehicle accidents. ⋯ One death occurred from bicycle handlebar injury; 12 deaths resulted from causes other than vehicle accidents. Major causes of pediatric fatalities were motor vehicle accidents (45%), pedestrian-vehicle accidents (28%), and bicycle accidents (6%). This study indicates that when safety measures such as restraint systems, helmets, or proper supervision are ignored, children may die as a result of trauma.
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In this retrospective study, we reviewed the demographic and radiographic findings of 155 children with bronchoscopy-proven tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (FBA). Two thirds of the patients were male, and most were children between 1 and 2 years of age. An aspirated peanut accounted for one third of all cases. ⋯ Although most patients were seen within 1 day of aspiration, 30 patients had symptoms that lasted at least 1 week before diagnosis. The most common radiographic findings were unilateral or segmental hyperlucency (59) or atelectasis (38). The trachea was the site of the foreign body in one half of children with a normal chest radiograph and FBA.
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Southern medical journal · Feb 1996
Screening for fever in an adult emergency department: oral vs tympanic thermometry.
The accuracy of tympanic thermometers in clinical practice continues to be questioned. We evaluated the Genius tympanic thermometer in our adult emergency department. All patients had both tympanic and oral temperature measurements. ⋯ Two patients in whom the tympanic thermometer failed to detect fever had AIDS, and their workup was altered by the detection of the fever. We conclude that the tympanic thermometer is not as sensitive as the oral thermometer in the detection of fever. The use of tympanic thermometers in the adult emergency department should be questioned.