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Traumatic Shoulder Injuries
Traumatic Shoulder Injuries

Traumatic shoulder injuries are a frequent challenge in the emergency department, often affecting active, otherwise healthy patients. Because the shoulder’s intricate anatomy is vulnerable to a wide range of injuries—from fractures and dislocations to soft‑tissue and neurovascular compromise—timely recognition is essential to prevent long‑term dysfunction. In this installment, Dr. Sindelar outlines the key presentations, diagnostic considerations, and management strategies for acute shoulder trauma.

Diagnostics: Accidental Hypothermia
Diagnostics: Accidental Hypothermia

It’s the time of year where people go outside and… get cold. Sometimes much much too cold. Join Dr. Geels for a bottom-up review of hypothermia, both its recognition and management in the ED setting.

Trip, Slip, Scan? Rethinking Head CTs in the Elderly
Trip, Slip, Scan? Rethinking Head CTs in the Elderly

Ground-level falls are a leading reason older adults get head CTs in the ER, largely because current rules treat age > 65 as a risk factor by itself. Yet many emergency physicians question whether that’s always necessary for well-appearing patients. A new systematic review and meta-analysis in Annals of Emergency Medicine digs deeper, asking: what other factors truly predict intracranial hemorrhage after ground-level falls? Join Dr. Snyder as she explores the findings, limitations, and what they mean for everyday practice.

Ovarian Emergencies: Adnexal Ectopic Pregnancy
Ovarian Emergencies: Adnexal Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy represents one of the most urgent gynecologic emergencies encountered in the ED. Though relatively uncommon, the consequences can be life‑threatening if not recognized quickly. Because symptoms often mimic other causes of acute pelvic pain, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion to avoid delays in diagnosis. Prompt management is essential to reduce morbidity and preserve future fertility. In this second installment of ovarian emergencies, Dr. Bannister reviews the critical features of ectopic pregnancy, its diagnostic challenges, and the strategies for timely intervention.

Ultrasound of the Month: Lipohemarthrosis
Ultrasound of the Month: Lipohemarthrosis

Dr. Tillotson takes us on a quick tour of the classic layered ultrasound appearance of lipohemarthrosis — the bedside clue that an occult fracture is hiding in plain sight.

Ovarian Emergencies: Can't Miss Diagnoses
Ovarian Emergencies: Can't Miss Diagnoses

Ovarian emergencies are uncommon in the ED, but when they occur the consequences can be serious. Conditions like cyst rupture, torsion, and tubo‑ovarian abscess demand rapid recognition and timely management to prevent morbidity and preserve fertility. Because presentations are often variable, clinicians must keep a high index of suspicion when evaluating acute pelvic pain. Join Dr. Bannister as he discusses these critical ovarian emergencies and their management. Ectopic pregnancy will be explored in a dedicated post to highlight its unique urgency.

A PSA on TXA: Updated recommendations for TXA in Trauma
A PSA on TXA: Updated recommendations for TXA in Trauma

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an anti-fibrinolytic that may reduce hemorrhage and improve survival in trauma. While early studies raised safety concerns, newer evidence supports its use in select patients. Join Dr. Segev as he reviews key TXA trials and highlights the updated EAST guidelines on pre-hospital and in-hospital administration.

Global Health: Chagas Disease
Global Health: Chagas Disease

Join Dr. Kotei for a review of an increasingly America-relevant disease but traditionally in the global health archives. For ED clinicians, a high index of suspicion is key — especially when evaluating immigrants or travelers from endemic regions, or their children. 

When More is Less: Re-Examining CTA Use in GI Bleeds
When More is Less: Re-Examining CTA Use in GI Bleeds

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a frequent and potentially life-threatening presentation in the ED. With CT angiography increasingly being used as a first-line diagnostic tool, are we improving detection or simply overusing imaging? Join Dr. Guillaume as she discusses this recent JAMA Network Open study examining trends in CTA utilization for GI bleeding and whether rising scan rates are truly leading to better diagnostic yield.

Blunt Thoracic Trauma in the Emergency Department
Blunt Thoracic Trauma in the Emergency Department

Blunt thoracic trauma represents a large portion of trauma related injuries in the emergency department. Join Dr Ware as she discusses a practical approach to initial assessment using the ABCs, highlights the role of imaging (X-ray vs CT), and reviews management of common thoracic injuries.