Traumatic testicular dislocation after minor trauma in a pediatric patient.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic dislocation of the testicle is a rare injury that may result from blunt abdominopelvic trauma. The majority of cases reportedly occur in young adults secondary to severe scrotal trauma during high-speed motorcycle crashes. Our review of the available English medical literature revealed only one pediatric case. OBJECTIVE: We present a case of pediatric testicular dislocation and torsion resulting from minor abdominopelvic trauma. The case report is followed by a brief review of the available literature. CASE REPORT: A 10-year-old boy presented to the Pediatric Emergency Department with abdominal pain. He had suffered a strike to the abdomen and groin during an attempt at flipping over a "monkey bar" at school. A tender mass was found in his right inguinal canal and the genital examination revealed an empty right hemiscrotum. Bedside ultrasonography was used to locate the testicle and it was noted by color-flow Doppler to lack demonstrable blood flow. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room, where he underwent orchiopexy and hernia repair after a viable testicle was found. He had a subsequently uneventful recovery. CONCLUSION: Although rare, testicular dislocation may be a serious result of abdominopelvic trauma. Emergency providers who care for trauma patients must include this condition in their differential diagnosis; to do otherwise risks a delay in diagnosis that may affect testicular viability. In this case, testicular dislocation may have resulted from the combination of trauma and a previously undiagnosed indirect inguinal hernia.

Pediatric retinal detachment due to Coats' disease diagnosed with bedside emergency department ultrasound.

Atraumatic retinal detachment in a pediatric patient is an extremely rare but vision-threatening disease process. Obtaining an adequate history and physical examination in children presenting with eye complaints can be extremely challenging, as young children are frequently unable to provide a good history or comply with a detailed physical examination. The use of high-resolution bedside ultrasonography in the Emergency Department can assist practitioners with obtaining detailed images of structural intraocular pathology. We present the unusual case of a suspected atraumatic retinal detachment in a pediatric patient that was confirmed using this novel imaging modality.

Pediatric Trauma: Management From an Austere Prospective.

Pediatric trauma represents a notable proportion of casualties encountered by Combat medics, physician assistants, and physicians while in the deployed setting. Most of these resuscitation teams receive limited pediatric- specific training and suffer subsequent emotional stress due the perceived high-stakes nature of caring for gravely wounded children. Even when children survive long enough to arrive at combat support hospitals, there remain high risks for morbidity and mortality for many of them. There are numerous reports of the epidemiological characteristics of these pediatric patients, the common mechanisms of injury, the hospital lengths of stay, and calls for pediatric-specific equipment and specialist presence in-theatre. There is scant literature, however, on child-specific battlefield resuscitation and training for initial providers, and we believe that, with appropriately tailored pediatric resuscitation education and training strategies, there is some potential for a reduction in the morbidity and mortality associated with childhood combat injury.

Use of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate for the repair of a fractured molar tooth.

Odontalgia in association with an acutely fractured tooth is a frequent reason for emergency department presentation. We describe the case of a patient who presented with a painful fractured molar tooth and was treated with topical application of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive, resulting in prompt relief of her discomfort and a good temporary functional and cosmetic outcome. This product may prove useful in treating similar dental emergencies when access to emergency dental care is unavailable.

Painful dilemmas: an evidence-based look at challenging clinical scenarios.

Difficult clinical decisions are a part of every emergency practitioner's life. Dealing with difficult patients and recalcitrant consultants is seldom enjoyable, but can be made more palatable through the use of some of the clinical strategies contained in this article. Knowledge of the current best evidence and a willingness to discard outdated practice ideas will help ensure that emergency practitioners continue to provide state-of-the-art medical care. Expressions of care, concern, and respect for patients' problems, and development of a therapeutic alliance with these patients will maximize patient, and ultimately physician, satisfaction.