Far too often we are faced with the situation in which we are concerned about septic arthritis in a patient’s ankle. Although tapping the ankle can be a daunting task, Dr. Leech provides us with a guide in this month’s minor care post to make difficulty with ankle arthrocentesis a problem of the past.
Read MoreThis week's Grand Rounds opened with Dr. Ludmer giving Morbidity and Mortality conference. Sports Medicine Dr. Betz then took on the common chief complaint of ankle pain, and described the evidence-based management and common ankle sprain mimics. Dr. Shaw discussed basics on tracheostomies and Dr. Renne closed out Grand Rounds with his approach to the judicious use of IV fluids in septic shock.
Read MoreA 43 year old female presents to the ED after "rolling" her ankle while gardening. She states that she was stepping down on a shovel when her ankle rolled. <She describes to you and inversion type injury.> Being a diligent, studious physician, you quickly run through the Ottawa Ankle Rules while you obtain the remainder of you history and physical. She was unable to bear weight immediately after the accident and is, likewise, unable to do so here in the ED. She has no pain with palpation over the medial malleolus but does have significant pain and tenderness with palpation of the lateral malleolus. You quickly decide that this patient will need ankle radiographs to further investigate the possibility of fracture.
But, what views should you order? And, once you get the films back, how do you interpret them. Check out the excellent video embedded below, made by Dr. Claire O'Brien, PGY-1 in the University of Cincinnati Dept. of Emergency Medicine Residency Training program, to find out!
Read MoreSRU (pronounced "shrew") = Shock Resuscitation Unit
Training in, and managing, the SRU is one of the crown jewels of our residency. It is where the sickest of the sick patients are found in our ED. It is a crucible, a test of knowledge and strength, and a true manifestation of the tripartite mission of our department: Leadership, Excellence, and Opportunity.
Training in, and managing, the SRU is one of the crown jewels of our residency. It is where the sickest of the sick patients are found in our ED. It is a crucible, a test of knowledge and strength, and a true manifestation of the tripartite mission of our department: Leadership, Excellence, and Opportunity.
