J Trauma
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Trauma base knowledge and the effect of the trauma evaluation and management program among senior medical students in seven countries.
We compared base trauma knowledge and the impact of the Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) program among senior medical students in seven countries. ⋯ Base trauma knowledge in these students, though variable, was generally very low and improved with TEAM. Our data suggest a need for greater undergraduate emphasis in trauma education.
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Trauma patients with surgical procedures, acute lung injury (ALI), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and longer exposure to invasive devices may be at increased risk for hospital-associated infection (HAI). HAIs have been shown to affect outcome measures, but the extent is not well studied. ⋯ In this study of trauma patients, ISS had the greatest effect on LOS, but increased age and presence of HAI did increase LOS and cost of care. HAI increased LOS more in the less severely injured patients.
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The technique of percutaneous screw fixation, with increasing popularity, has been successfully conducted in non-displaced, stable scaphoid fractures resulting in shortened immobilization duration and prompt functional retrieval. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical technique and to explore the potential benefits of using percutaneous screw fixation in unstable scaphoid fractures. ⋯ The technique of percutaneous screw fixation was successfully used to treat 11 unstable scaphoid fractures. The encouraging outcome of this treatment option and the prompt functional recovery deserve further investigation. Further randomized prospective studies to explore the specific indications and ubiquitous benefits of the technique presented herein are recommended.
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The current seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in the Canadian trauma population is unknown. Establishing the seroprevalence of these diseases is vital for education, postexposure prophylaxis, and counseling, and to establish potential screening guidelines. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in the trauma population of London, Ontario, Canada. ⋯ This is the first study to determine the rates of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in the Canadian trauma population. Our trauma population demonstrated a threefold higher hepatitis C seroprevalence rate compared with the general population. Hepatitis C poses the highest risk to the trauma team of the three bloodborne diseases studied. With no vaccine or postexposure prophylaxis currently available for hepatitis C, this study highlights the importance of prevention and the strict use of universal precautions in the setting of trauma.