The impact of telehealth based care on paediatric cystic fibrosis outcomes.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic telehealth utilisation amongst the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) population increased. Our aim was to assess the impact of CF telehealth clinics on CF outcomes. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients seen in the CF clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital (Victoria, Australia). In this review we compared spirometry, microbiology and anthropometry in the year preceding the pandemic to during the pandemic, and to the first in-person appointment in 2021. 214 patients were included. First in-person FEV1 was median 5.4% below individuals' best FEV1 in 12 months prior to lockdown and decreased by >10% in 46 (31.9%) patients. There were no significant findings with regards to microbiology or anthropometry. The reduction in FEV1 observed on return to in-person appointments highlights the importance of ongoing improvement of telehealth-based care along with continued face-to-face review for the paediatric CF population.

Deformed pediatric forearm fractures: Predictors of successful reduction by emergency providers.

INTRODUCTION: Forearm fractures are common pediatric injuries. Most displaced or angulated fractures can be managed via closed reduction in the operating room or in the Emergency Department (ED). Previous research has shown that emergency physicians can successfully perform closed reduction within ED; however, the fracture morphology amendable to ED physician reduction is unclear. The aim of this study is to detail the fracture characteristics associated with successful reduction by ED physicians. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of children (aged <18 years) presenting to the ED of a tertiary care children's hospital (annual census 90,000) between January 2018 and December 2018 with closed distal and midshaft forearm fractures requiring reduction. Data collected included patient demographics, fracture morphology, management, and complications. Successful ED physician reduction was based on predefined criteria. Orthopedic referrals included those patients sent directly to the operating room, closed reductions performed by orthopedic trainees within the ED, and patients requiring orthopedic consultation after failed ED reduction. RESULTS: A total of 340 patients with forearm fractures were included in the study. ED clinicians attempted to reduce 274 (80.6%) of these fractures and were successful in 256/274 (93.4%) cases. Of the 84 orthopedic referrals, 18 were after failed ED clinician attempt, and 66 were ab initio managed by orthopedics (37 in the operating room and 29 in ED). Compared to the fractures with successful ED reduction (n = 256), factors associated with orthopedic referral (n = 84) included: increasing age, midshaft location, higher degree of angulation, and completely displaced fractures. Angulated distal greenstick fractures were most likely to be successfully reduced by ED clinicians. There were no difference in complication rates between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In this series, fractures most amenable to reduction by ED clinicians include distal greenstick fractures, whereas midshaft and completely displaced fractures are more likely to need treatment by orthopedics.