A Survey of Emergency Providers Regarding the Current Management of Anterior Shoulder Dislocations.

BACKGROUND: Anterior shoulder dislocations (ASDs) are frequent painful injuries commonly treated in the emergency department. The last decade new potentially less traumatic and painful reduction techniques for ASDs have been introduced. Recent literature comparing best reduction techniques, medication use, and approaches is limited. To better guide future research including the use of these newer techniques, information about the current use of different reduction techniques and medication is needed. METHODS: Our primary aim was to survey the techniques used by emergency practitioners to reduce ASDs. Our secondary objective was to gather data on medication usage during reduction. To these ends, we surveyed members of the Netherlands Society of Emergency Physicians. RESULTS: Forty-four percent of respondents reported using a traction-based technique (Hippocrates or Stimson). Biomechanical techniques were used by 40% of respondents. Twelve percent reported using the Kocher leverage-based technique. Five percent of the techniques used could not be classified. A wide variety of procedural sedation and pain management interventions were reported, with an opioid and propofol being used most commonly. Approximately 9% of the reductions were attempted without any medications. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind on ASD management by emergency practitioners. Our results indicate that Dutch emergency practitioners employ all three classes of reduction techniques: traction-countertraction most commonly, closely followed by biomechanical techniques. Medication use during repositioning varied widely. Per our survey, emergency practitioners are desirous of an evidence-based guideline for ASD management.

Hernia surgery changes in the Amsterdam region 1994-2001: decrease in operations for recurrent hernia.

Inguinal hernia (IH) surgery has changed substantially in the past decade. Conventional (nonmesh) techniques have largely given way to prostheses. This study's aim was to analyse whether changes in technique used for IH repair influenced the operation rate for recurrence. A retrospective study was performed on all adult males who had undergone IH surgery in the Amsterdam region during the calendar years of 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2001. Data were obtained for 3,649 subjects and included patient demographics, hernia type, and surgical technique. We observed a decrease in the use of conventional techniques and a significant increase (P<0.05) in the use of prosthetic materials. The number of operations performed for recurrent hernia decreased from 19.5% (216/1,108) in 1994, to 16.8% 197/1,170) in 1996, to 14.0% (152/1,088) in 1999, and to 14.1% (40/283) in 2001. When comparing 1999 and 2001 with 1994, there was a significant decrease in operations performed for recurrent hernia (P=0.005). There was also a significant increase in supervision of the surgical resident by a surgeon.

Rupture of a previously normal spleen in association with enoxaparin: An unusual cause of shock.

We report the case of an adult male presenting in shock caused by spontaneous rupture of a pathologically normal spleen. One day before his presentation he had received a single subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin. This was the patient's only clearly identifiable risk factor for spontaneous splenic rupture. Nontraumatic splenic rupture should be included in the differential diagnosis of shock.