J Emerg Med
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The removal of metal rings from fingers is a well-described process that often employs a toothed cutting wheel or bolt cutters to sever the ring and allow it to be pried open. However, tungsten carbide (TC) rings are impervious to these traditional ring-cutting devices. ⋯ Removal of a TC ring can be performed through controlled crushing using locking pliers. Superficial lacerations and retained debris are potential complications.
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Hurricane Katrina resulted in a significant amount of injury, death, and destruction. ⋯ There was a high prevalence of PTSD in this ED population surveyed 1 year after hurricane Katrina. By targeting high-risk patients, disaster relief teams may be able to reduce the impact of PTSD in similar populations.
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Saphenous vein cutdown is a rare venous access procedure. Ultrasound (US) can assist with many vascular access procedures. ⋯ US can localize the SV in pediatric ED patients. US size of the SV in various pediatric age ranges suggests that the SV may be a potential US venous access site with multiple-size i.v. catheters up to 18G.
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The recent mandate for surgical exploration for all penetrating abdominal trauma has been questioned. High-volume centers report good outcomes for non-operative treatment in penetrating trauma for hemodynamically stable patients without peritonitis and with tangential wounds. The applicability of this strategy in smaller hospitals is unknown. ⋯ In hemodynamically stable patients without peritonitis and documented isolated injuries to solid organs, non-operative management of penetrating abdominal trauma seems safe; however, it can delay diagnosis of hollow viscus injuries. Until further data emerge, extreme caution should be used in employing non-operative management for penetrating abdominal injuries at small trauma centers.
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Despite the developments in medicine in recent years, people in many regions of the world still tend to use alternative, or non-medical, folkloric treatment methods for many different health problems. One of these methods is "rope wrapping to the back," which is considered to be therapeutic for patients with lumbar disc hernias or low back pain. This method is practiced by local individuals without medical training. ⋯ Improvements are needed to increase the accessibility of health care, improve physician-patient communication, and provide information to people, so as to prevent the use of folk remedies, which can have serious complications, sometimes resulting in death.