European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine
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The Thunderdome-party was a mass gathering of 14000 young people. Many of them were under influence of drugs (amphetamine and ecstasy (MDMA)). ⋯ The benefit of a prehospital medical team at the event is illustrated by the description of the population treated on-site. Toxicological screening of blood and urine was not necessary to safely treat drug intoxication during the Thunderdome-party.
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We prospectively studied 56 patients with an acute ankle injury and an effusion to determine the significance of the ankle effusion to functional outcome. The average size of effusion was 15 mm. ⋯ No correlation was found with size of effusion and the functional and clinical outcome. We conclude that an ankle effusion does not reliably distinguish which injuries require further investigations and unless there are clinical indications further investigations are not indicated.
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Two case reports characterized by the complete occlusion of the basilar artery, secondary to dissection of the vertebral artery after closed head trauma are described. These lesions, often clinically silent in the beginning, were able to cause severe neurologic impairment, even after minor head trauma in healthy individuals without predisposing structural disorders. ⋯ Therapeutic management is discussed. Anti-coagulants, thrombolytic agents or surgical ligation of the vessel has been proposed to prevent the extension of the lesion and to improve the outcome.