Injury
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To investigate the state of knowledge on the relationship between physical trauma and mental health in patients admitted to hospital with traumatic physical injury. ⋯ There is limited understanding of the experience of traumatic physical injury, particularly in relation to mental health. Greater translation of research findings to practice is needed in order to promote routine screening, early identification and referral to treatment for mental health problems in this patient group.
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Comparative Study
Is there a need for a clinical decision rule in blunt wrist trauma?
Blunt wrist trauma is a very common injury in emergency medicine. However, in contrast to other extremity trauma, there is no clinical decision rule for radiography in patients with blunt wrist trauma. ⋯ There is no need for a clinical decision rule for radiography in patients with blunt wrist trauma because the fracture ratio is high. Neither does it seem feasible to develop a highly sensitive and efficient decision rule. Therefore, the authors recommend radiography in all patients with blunt wrist trauma presenting to the ED.
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Computer-assisted guidance systems are not used frequently for musculoskeletal injuries unless there are potential advantages. We investigated a novel fluoroscopy-based image guidance system in orthopaedic trauma surgery. ⋯ The novel image-guidance system could be integrated into the surgical workflow and was used successfully in orthopaedic trauma surgery. Expected advantages should be explored in randomised studies.
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Difficulties have been reported in the patient distribution during Mass Casualty Incidents. In this study we analysed the regional patient distribution protocol (PDP) and the actual patient distribution after the 2009 Turkish Airlines crash near Amsterdam. ⋯ Patient distribution worked out well after the crash as secondary transfers were low and critical mortality rate was zero. However, the regional PDP was not followed in this MCI and casualties were unevenly distributed among hospitals. The PDP is indistinctive, and should be updated in cooperation between Emergency Services, surrounding hospitals, and Schiphol International Airport as a high risk area.
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The concept of the golden patient (GP) was introduced to our busy teaching hospital, in April 2009, with the aim of improving our trauma theatre start times. The GP is a pre-selected first patient on the following day trauma list who is medically fit with a clear surgical plan. ⋯ The introduction of the GP to our trauma lists has made a significant improvement to theatre start times and consequently surgical theatre efficiency.