OBJECTIVE Cranial computed tomography (CT) scans are frequently obtained in the evaluation of blunt head trauma in children. These scans may detect unexpected incidental findings. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and significance of incidental findings on cranial CT scans in children evaluated for blunt head trauma. METHODS This was a secondary analysis of a multi...

BACKGROUND Many surgeons believe that early mobilization of patients with blunt solid organ injuries increases the risk of delayed hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE To determine whether there is an association between the day of mobilization and rates of delayed hemorrhage from blunt solid organ injuries. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determin...

PURPOSE To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography (US) in detecting intraabdominal injuries in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Blunt trauma patients admitted to the emergency department from January 2002 to August 2003 were retrospectively evaluated. A total of 454 patients with blunt abdominal trauma who underwent US examination were included. Ultrasonog...

Objective: To investigate the symptoms and pathology related to classification of temporomandibular joint traumatic arthritis (TMJTA) and the use of classification of various forms. Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 41 patients with TMJTA caused by joint blunt trauma, 32 patients with chronic TMJTA caused by condylar fractures and 6 patients with a long time opening limitation after con...

partment pressures that exceed capillary perfusion, causing ischemia and edema within the compartment. This has been well characterized in the lower leg following excessive muscle strain, tibia fracture, or other blunt trauma and in the forearm following blunt trauma. There are few reports of dorsal compartment syndrome of the upper arm. A literature review found only one previous case without ...

Diaphragmatic hernia following blunt abdominal injury is extremely rare and often diagnosed late. Missed diagnosis is also common with this condition. We herein present a delayed presentation of diaphragmatic hernia following blunt abdominal injury that was initially misdiagnosed as recurrent acute asthmatic attack due to repeated presentation with episodic difficulty in breathing.

A case of hepatic abscess and subsequent septicemia caused by Clostridium bifermentans is described. The abscess manifested itself on the third day after blunt trauma to the torso. The patient had nausea, vomiting, fever, evidence of hepatic dysfunction, and subphrenic gas. This case illustrates the association of hepatic abscess and blunt trauma to the torso.

BACKGROUND Our objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) performed on both penetrating and blunt trauma victims, using both published survival and outcome data and previously unaccounted for data on the cost of occupational exposure. METHODS Cost-utility analysis was performed using decision-analytic models constructed for both penetrating and bl...

BACKGROUND Spleen artery embolization (SAE) may increase the success rate of nonoperative management (NOM). The present study investigated the clinical outcome after the installation of SAE in the management of blunt splenic injury. METHODS A retrospective review of hospital records was performed to enroll patients with blunt injury of the spleen. Demographic data and information about the in...

Forecasting is a strategy for delivering bad news and is compared to two other strategies, stalling and being blunt. Forecasting provides some warning that bad news is forthcoming without keeping the recipient in a state of indefinite suspense (stalling) or conveying the news abruptly (being blunt). Forecasting appears to be more effective than stalling or being blunt in helping a recipient to ...