Your quick guide to the management of bite wounds in the ED - dogs, cats, and humans - oh, my!

A 41 yo male is brought in by EMS after self inflicted stab wounds to the neck and chest. As the patient is transferred to the ED stretcher, you frantically try to recall the initial priorities in the management of this potentially deadly injury....

An unconscious 35 y/o male presents from the scene of a motor vehicle versus pedestrian accident.  The patient is intubated and hypotensive but there is no source of external bleeding. FAST is negative. Blood products are given with no response. CT imaging shows no evidence of bleeding. What should you consider?

Independently interpreting plain film imaging is an essential skill for the Emergency Medicine provider. Among the most notorious of injuries likely to be missed is the Maisonneuve fracture. In this post we demonstrate the "can't miss" imaging findings to ensure that you don't make the mistake of thinking this is "just an ankle sprain!"

A 23 year old male presents to your emergency department with a stab wound to the right side of his lower back.  Which of the following below would be consistent with Brown-Sequard Syndrome? (scroll down for answer) 

A) Loss of motor function in right leg; loss of temperature sensation in left leg 

B) Loss of motor function in left leg; loss of temperature sensation in left leg 

C) Loss of motor function in right leg; loss of temperature sensation in right leg 

D) Loss of motor function in left leg; loss of temperature sensation in left leg

Which of the following is considered a STABLE cervical spine injury? (scroll down for answer) 

A) Clay Shoveler’s Fracture

B) Atlanto-occipital Dissociation 

C) Jefferson Burst Fracture

“Jefferson Bit Off A Hangman’s Thumb”

Jefferson Fracture

Need a refersher for the FDP vs. FDS? Read on for a quick review.

Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency.  Measurements of compartment pressures are an important adjunct to making the diagnosis. Check out this post for a video demonstration on how to operate the Stryker Device