Cook County EM Blog

JUNE 2, 2022

Patient Course: Radiographs demonstrated a displaced, comminuted midshaft fracture of the fourth metacarpal. Orthopedic surgery saw the patient in clinic two weeks later, and given the irreducible fracture, the patient underwent open reduction and percutaneous pinning the next day. Metacarpal fractures: treatment and complications.

Fractures 52

Fractures Soft Tissue Injuries Operations Emergency Department 52

Taming the SRU

JANUARY 29, 2024

Notable Diagnostics CBC : unremarkable, BMP : unremarkable X-ray imaging of the left hand, wrist, and forearm: chronic degenerative changes without acute fracture or bony abnormality. Phlegmasia Cerulea Dolens in the Upper Extremity: A Case Report and Systematic Review and Outcomes Analysis. 2000 Dec;45(6):644-6. Ann Plast Surg.

Emergency Department 94

Emergency Department Fractures Hospitals Operations 94

Cook County EM Blog

MARCH 20, 2023

X-rays showed radiopaque foreign bodies confined to the distal thumb without fracture. 2019 Nov 16;8(11):2000. 2000 Jul;45(1):64-6. Latex paint-gun injuries of the hand: are the outcomes better? There were no signs of infection, compartment syndrome, tissue necrosis, or limb ischemia. J Clin Med. doi: 10.3390/jcm8112000.

Fractures 52

Fractures Documentation/Coding Operations Research 52

PEMBlog

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

battle sign bruises around the mastoid, raccoon eyes, or other bruising and lacerations) or reported by history – but could be identified (later) with a bleed or fracture on a head CT scan if your index of suspicion is high or the seizure is going well beyond the expected duration and not responding well to antiepileptics.

Seizures 52

Seizures Pediatrics Point-of-Care Testing Wellness 52

Taming the SRU

AUGUST 30, 2023

Significantly elevated CRP (>122mg/L) and PCT (>0.5ng/mL) levels are predictors of bad outcomes, and are useful for tracking therapy progress, but are not specific enough to rule-in infectious endocarditis [38-39]. Identifying serious causes of back pain: cancer, infection, fracture. 2000 Aug;30(1):17-24. PMID: 18756836.

Infectious Diseases 89

Infectious Diseases Sepsis Emergency Department Point-of-Care Testing 89

Don't Forget the Bubbles

DECEMBER 2, 2024

The majority of them focused on the care process (86.8%), while a smaller percentage focused on care outcomes (9.3%) and structural aspects (3.9%). Most QIs focus on the care process; however, there is a lack of QIs that assess clinical outcomes. Expert panel studies and observational studies proposed 129 QIs. Why does it matter?

Documentation/Coding 98

Documentation/Coding Pediatrics Emergency Department Fractures 98

EMDocs

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

Costochondritis, rib fractures, and pericarditis are common causes of chest pain that can be treated with multimodal regimens. 7 Rib and Sternal Fractures: Rib fractures are often caused by blunt chest trauma. Up to two-thirds of rib fractures are missed on initial chest radiographs. Most cases abate by one year.

Emergency Department 105

Emergency Department Fractures Burns EMS 105