Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences in Children: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with increased risk of poor mental health outcomes. Although there is interest in screening for ACEs for early identification and intervention, it is not known whether screening improves outcomes for children. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review whether screening for ACEs in children leads to an increase in (1) identification of ACEs, (2) referrals to services, (3) increased uptake of services, and (4) improved mental health outcomes for children and parents. DATA SOURCES: Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Center for Clinical and Translational Research electronic databases were searched between 2009 and 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included if researchers screened for current ACEs in children aged 0 to 12 years and they had a control comparison. DATA EXTRACTION: Information was extracted, including study characteristics, sample demographics, screening tool characteristics, referral rates to services, uptake rates, and mental health outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 5816 articles were screened, with 4 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Screening for ACEs increases identification of adversity and may increase referrals to services. There are limited data about whether this leads to an increase in referral uptake by families. There are no reported data addressing mental health outcomes. LIMITATIONS: There are few published control trials of moderate quality. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence that screening for ACEs improves identification of childhood adversity and may improve referrals. If we are to realize the hypothesized benefits of ACEs screening on child and parent mental health, it is essential to understand the barriers for families taking up referrals.

A case series of recurrent myotendinous rotator cuff tears repaired and augmented with dermal allograft: clinical outcomes at two years.

When rotator cuff tears occur after a primary repair at the footprint, they often fail medially at the myotendinous junction, also called type II tears. These are difficult tears to treat, and little research has been published on how to address tears at the myotendinous junction and the clinical outcomes of the revised repairs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of type II rotator cuff tears repaired with a dermal allograft augmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 9 patients with a type II rotator cuff tear medially at the myotendinous junction, arthroscopically repaired and augmented with acellular dermal allograft by a single surgeon. Two-year follow-up was obtained to evaluate pain, function, range of motion, and structural integrity of the repair via ultrasound. RESULTS: Of all 9 patients, the mean visual analog scale preoperatively was 5.1 (standard error, ±2.1). With 9 patients having 2-year follow-up, the mean visual analog scale score continued to improve to 1.9 (standard error, ±2.4). At 2 years, the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons based on 8 patients was 76.1, and the mean Short Form 36 for all 9 patients was 78.7. All 9 patients with 2-year follow-up had an intact repair on ultrasound read by a musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist. DISCUSSION: Based on the early outcome data, patient satisfaction scores, and intact repairs visualized on ultrasound at 2 years postoperatively, the use of acellular human dermal matrix augmentation appears to be an efficacious and worthwhile treatment option for patients with recurrent rotator cuff tears at the medial myotendinous junction.

Clinical Indications of Computed Tomography (CT) of the Head in Patients With Low-Energy Geriatric Hip Fractures: A Follow-Up Study at a Community Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: A seemingly large percentage of geriatric patients with isolated low-energy femur fractures undergo a head computed tomography (CT) scans during initial work up in the emergency department. This study aimed to evaluate the pertinent clinical variables that are associated with positive CT findings with the objective to decrease the number of unnecessary CT scans performed. METHODS: A retrospective review performed at a level II trauma center including 713 patients over the age of 65 sustaining a femur fracture following a low-energy fall. The main outcome measure was pertinent clinical variables that are associated with CT scans that yielded positive findings. RESULTS: A total of 713 patients over the age of 65 were included, with a low-energy fall, of which 76.2% (543/713) underwent a head CT scan as part of their evaluation. The most common presenting symptom reported was the patient hitting their head, 13% (93/713), and 1.8% (13/713) were unsure if they had hit their head. Of those evaluated with a head CT scan, only 3 (0.4%) had acute findings and none required acute neurosurgical intervention. All three patients with acute changes on the head CT scan had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 9, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) less than 15, and evidence of trauma above the clavicles. DISCUSSION: None of the patients with a traumatic injury required a neurosurgical intervention after sustaining a low-energy fall (0/713). CONCLUSION: Head CT scans should have a limited role in the workup of this patient population and should be reserved for patients with a history and physical exam findings that support head trauma, an ISS > 9 and GCS < 15.