Yard Work and Gardening: A Pastime with Potential for Craniofacial Injury.

INTRODUCTION: Yard and garden tools are increasingly used by Americans. Despite the growing popularity of gardening as a leisure activity, the rate of injury associated with these tools remains remarkedly high. Previous research has highlighted the risks associated with improper handling of tools and associated potential long-term consequences. This retrospective study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the craniofacial injuries caused by yard and garden equipment. The investigation will emphasize the need for improved safety measures and regulations. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Publicly available data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database were utilized to identify craniofacial injuries related to yard and garden tool handling during a 10-year period (2013-2022). Study population included patients aged 1 to 85+ years who visited emergency departments secondary to these injuries. Data analysis involved queries for specific products and diagnostic codes related to craniofacial injuries. RESULTS: Over the study period, a total of 588,384 craniofacial injuries associated with yard and garden tools were recorded, averaging 58,838 injuries annually. Men accounted for a significantly higher proportion of injuries (69.2%) compared to women (30.8%). Elderly population, particularly those aged 60 to 64 years, experienced the highest incidence of craniofacial injuries. Cranium was the most commonly affected anatomical location, comprising 34% of all injuries. Lacerations and contusions were the most frequent injury diagnoses. Greenhouse or gardening supplies and lawnmowers are the most common causative agents, respectively. DISCUSSION: Our study highlights the persistent incidence of craniofacial injuries associated with yard and garden tool handling emphasizing the need for standardized safety regulations and guidelines. Sociological and demographic factors, such as differences in gardening habits and behavioral patterns between genders, contribute to the observed disparities in injury rates. Understanding the underlying factors contributing to these craniofacial injuries is crucial to promoting safer practices and reducing the overall burden associated with yard and garden tools.

Characterization of the Relative Change in Objective and Subjective Metrics by Baselining Patients Who Have Wearable Technology Before Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Wearable sensors and associated supporting technologies (ie, patient applications) can provide both objective (joint position, step counts, etc.) and subjective data (ie, pain scores and patient-reported outcome measures) to track a patient's episode of care. Establishing a subjective and objective baseline of a patient's experience may arguably be beneficial for multiple reasons, including setting recovery expectations for the patient and demonstrating the effectiveness or success of the intervention. METHODS: In this pilot study, we characterized a subset of patients (n = 82 from 7 surgeons) using a wearable sensor system at least 6 days before total knee arthroplasty and provided postsurgical data up to 50 days postintervention. The 5-day average before surgery for total step counts (activity), achieved flexion and extension on a progress test (functional limit) and visual analog scale daily pain score were calculated. The difference from baseline was then calculated for each patient for each day postsurgery and reported as averages. RESULTS: On average, a patient will experience a relative deficit of 4,000 steps immediately following surgery that will return to near-baseline levels 50 days postintervention. A 30° deficit in flexion and a 10° deficit in extension will return at a similar rate as steps. Relative pain scores will worsen with an increase of approximately 3 points immediately following surgery. However, pain will decrease by 2 points relative to baseline between 40 and 50 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study demonstrate a method to baseline a patient's presurgical subjective and objective data and to provide a reference for postsurgical recovery expectations. Applications for these data include benchmarking for evaluating intervention success as well as setting patient expectations.

A nationwide analysis of upper extremity injuries in martial arts.

Objective: Given the rise of martial arts within the fitness and recreational industry, it is important to study trends in injury and note that practicing martial arts comes with a risk of injury, particularly to the upper extremities. By studying consumer product-related injuries to the upper extremities and addressing the current gap in the literature, future martial arts equipment can come with increased safety features, better provide information to healthcare providers treating such injuries, and improve risk mitigation through the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database was analyzed to collect data on martial arts equipment-related injuries on the upper extremities within the last 10 years. Results: Over the most recent span of 10 years (2013-2022), there were approximately 78,680 injuries reported to the ED. The majority of them took place in 2013 (12.8%). Men were 2.4 times more likely to get injured than women. Injuries peaked in the age group 10-19-year-olds (33%) and particularly age 12 (4.8%). The upper extremity most commonly affected was the shoulder (29.1%), and the most common diagnosis group was a fracture (29.2%). Most injuries presented to the emergency department were not hospitalized (98.7%). Conclusions: This study highlights the occurrence of upper extremity injuries due to martial arts within the last 10 years and provides new information on the prevalence of such injuries. The results highlight that these injuries are usually non-severe and most commonly affect adolescent males; however, future research should explore performance-based recovery post-injury and long-term pain.

Cancer caregivers are primarily motivated by love and sense of duty.

Cancer is a debilitating disease for which patients often need caretakers to help them live their lives and complete basic activities. This study aims to characterize the burden of the caretaker. A 14-question survey was sent out to randomly selected United States cancer caretakers to analyze the social, emotional, and physical burden of their caretaking. The results show that a majority of caretakers are direct family to the patient (69.5%). The patients' cancers are often in early stages with about 54.5% having stage 1 cancer and 22.5% having stage 2 cancer while only 8.5% had stage 3 cancer and 17.8% had stage 4 cancer. When asked about their motivation, caretakers most often do it because of love (58.82%) with family responsibilities/duty being the second highest reason (35.56%). When asked about their biggest burden, many caretakers said that grief was the biggest issue (30.50%) with mental health issues also being troublesome (28%). 75.6% of respondents said that being a cancer caretaker has negatively impacted their mental health from either anxiety (37.29%), depression (33.9%), or other conditions (4.41%). When asked about the negative impacts of being a caregiver, 43.5% stated they faced high financial costs to give care, and 35% stated they met a lack of social support or lost friends. In comparison, 33% stated they had negative physical impacts. The number of participants who face overwhelming or high stress nearly quintupled from baseline, from 13% to 59.5%. This cross-sectional survey of US adults demonstrates that there are clear negative impacts on cancer caregivers on their physical, financial, social, and mental health. These data underscore the importance of taking care of patients' caregivers.

Epidemiology of Craniofacial Injuries from Exercise and Weightlifting: A 10-Year Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. It is recognized for enhancing cardiovascular health and bolstering mental well-being. While the fitness industry grows, the incidence of exercise-related injuries continues to rise. This study examines craniofacial injuries resulting from exercise and weightlifting over the past decade. The goal is to uncover trends, demographics, diagnoses, and patient dispositions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review was conducted using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. Emergency department visits for craniofacial injuries associated with exercise and weightlifting between 2013 and 2022 were analyzed. One-sample t-tests and the Mann-Kendall test were used to evaluate injury prevalence and significant trends. RESULTS: Over the past decade, 582,972 craniofacial injuries related to exercise and weightlifting were documented. Men accounted for 55.7% of cases. Annual incidence increased by 32.7% between 2013 and 2022. It was statistically significant. Adolescents aged 15 to 19 displayed the highest injury rate. Head injuries were most common (45%), followed by face (26%), neck (21%), mouth (4%), eye (3%), and ear (1%). Diagnoses included internal injury (25.2%), laceration (24.8%), contusions/abrasions (12.9%), and strain/sprain (11.9%). Hospitalization was required for only 8.5% of patients. DISCUSSION: This study elucidates the need for injury prevention strategies. Vulnerable subgroups such as males, adolescents, and the elderly demand targeted prevention efforts. Future research should explore specific mechanisms of injury to identify high-risk exercise. This study promotes the need for safe exercise practices and increases awareness of craniofacial injury risks associated with physical activity.

Prevalence of Craniofacial Injuries in the Elderly Population.

INTRODUCTION: Recognizing and understanding risk factors for craniofacial injury in the elderly is of paramount importance in prevention. This research aims to investigate the prevalence of craniofacial injuries in connection with extrinsic preventable factors, particularly identifying common household products that pose the greatest risk for such injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was done with the utilization of the 2013 to 2022 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Data gathered included patient age, injury type, cause of injury, and year of incidence. "Elderly" was defined as an individual of 65 years of age or older. RESULTS: There was a total of 9,703,688 estimated national cases of elderly craniofacial injury from 2013 to 2022. In all, 5,888,112 (60.68%) of these occurred in females. In descending order, the 5 most common items responsible for craniofacial injury in the elderly are floors/flooring Materials (3,741,706, 30.92%), beds/bed frames (1,250,396, 10.33%), stairs/steps (907,92, 7.50%), chairs (546,697, 4.52%), and tables (453,989, 3.75%). These top 5 account for roughly 57% of all cases. The 5 most common presenting diagnoses were internal injury (2,957,095, 40.21%), lacerations (1,435,926, 19.53%), ABR (1,191,008, 16.20%), fracture (568,842, 7.74%), and hematoma (355,871, 4.84%). CONCLUSIONS: Out of the roughly 10 million cases of craniofacial injury in the last decade, ~three-fifths have happened to women. The majority of injuries occur in a home setting. The overwhelming majority of cases were related to the product code 1807-floors or flooring materials, and the largest diagnosis was internal injury by a wide margin. Evidently, there is a large population of elderly patients who suffer from craniofacial injuries related to objects and items that permeate within their living residences. The elimination of excess elderly craniofacial injury can be achieved by reducing fall risk factors in the immediate vicinity of the elderly.

Factors Influencing Patient Satisfaction with Total Joint Replacement Surgery.

Background: Replacement arthroplasty surgery is a surgical procedure that is needed to restore the activity of a joint. Patient satisfaction regarding arthroplasty surgery is influenced by post-operative complication rate, ability to afford care, and quality of interaction. In this study, we assessed patients' postoperative complications, mobility, and pain management as proxies for their overall satisfaction with total joint replacement (TJR). Methods: An anonymous web-based survey was conducted for patients who had undergone any total joint replacement surgery in the US. Respondents were adults living in the United States. Results: 180 individuals met the inclusion criteria and responded to the survey. Age, education, gender, and race were fitted against the patient satisfaction level with the surgeon. While education [P=0.4720], gender [P=0.5097 ], and race [P=0.8183] were not significant, age in years [P=0.02340] was predictive of overall satisfaction levels [R2=0.0213]. When controlling for BMI, infection [P=0.0164], nerve damage [P=0.0250], delayed healing [P=0.0024], hematoma [P=0.0497], were more likely to occur in participants who have had a knee replacement, as compared to shoulder and hip replacement surgery. When controlling for mobility before surgery vs. mobility after surgery [P=0.0114], patients who selected the highest level of mobility before surgery were likely to select the highest level of mobility after surgery. Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, employer-based insurance, and no insurance were fitted against the patient's self-reported difficulty in paying for their treatment/care. Although employer-based insurance [P=0.0790] was not significant in predicting difficulty in paying for the surgery, patients with Medicaid [P=0.0280], Medicare [P=0.0200], or private insurance [P=0.0343] did. Conclusion: In this cohort, older patients were associated with having improved satisfaction with the surgeon who performed their joint replacement. Complications were higher in patients who underwent a knee arthroplasty compared to a shoulder or hip arthroplasty.

Craniofacial Injuries in Swimming and Water Sports: Implications for Prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Water-related recreational activities, including swimming and diving, are widespread. However, they carry a significant risk of craniofacial injuries. Despite the popularity of these activities, comprehensive data on injuries beyond drowning remain scant. This study addresses this gap by providing valuable epidemiological insight into the nature, prevalence, and demographic patterns of craniofacial injuries related to water sports activities. METHODS: The authors queried the NEISS database for craniofacial injuries related to swimming, diving, and water sports from 2013 to 2022. Data were analyzed for demographics, anatomic locations of injuries, and the activities leading to these injuries. RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2022, a total of 952,111 craniofacial injuries were associated with swimming and water sports. Of these, 510,706 (53.6%) were male patients, and 441,405 (46.4%) were female. This indicates that males were 1.16 times more likely to sustain such injuries. The age groups most affected were 0 to 9 and 10 to 19 years. Anatomic locations impacted were as follows: ears (58.1%), head (16.8%), face (13.9%), neck (4.8%), eyeballs (4.4%), and mouth (2%). Leading causes were identified as swimming and water sports activities (66.5%), swimming pools and equipment (28.2%), diving or diving boards (4.7%), and scuba diving (0.5%). Notably, 89.2% of patients with diving-related injuries and 99.1% with swimming-related injuries were not admitted to the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers critical epidemiological data to supplement targeted prevention strategies and resource allocation in managing craniofacial injuries associated with water activities. The findings highlight the urgent need for specialized care and serve as a foundation for future preventive initiatives.

Racial disparities in subjective cognitive decline and its implications among Alzheimer's caretakers.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease is a prominent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. Variations in subjective cognitive decline among Alzheimer's patients, often reported by caregiver, may stem from cultural, socioeconomic, healthcare access, and genetic factors. This study investigates racial disparities in subjective cognitive decline reported by caregivers and their implications. METHODS: In this study, data from 12,627 Alzheimer's caretakers from the CDC's Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging Data Portal were analyzed using JMP software. Caregivers reported patients' cognitive decline for various racial categories: Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, Native American/Native Alaskan, and White. Fit model tests and distribution analyses were employed to assess disparities in symptom severity. The study focused on four key questions regarding symptom prevalence and healthcare communication to assess the degree of symptoms the patients were experiencing. RESULTS: Significant disparities in symptom severity reported by Alzheimer's caretakers were observed among the racial groups analyzed. The symptom severity ranked from least to most severe is the following: White, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, Native American/Native Alaskan, and Hispanic patients. There was variance when it came to communication with healthcare providers, as the Asian population had the lowest communication rates. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions considering cultural differences. It is important that tailoring healthcare approaches for different racial backgrounds is happening as a remedy to this gap in communication. CONCLUSION: Due to cultural, socioeconomic, genetic factors, and others, there were significant observed disparities. Tailoring interventions to these diverse populations is crucial to address these inequities.

Sex and employment status affect patients' perspectives regarding affordability of emergency department visits.

BACKGROUND: For many conditions, a timely visit to the Emergency Department (ED) can have a tremendous impact on the patient's outcome. However, the decision to visit the ED in a time of need can be stressful. Our study aims to understand whether cost was a factor for seeking ED care, and if any particular subgroups including race, ethnicity and sex were less likely to obtain such care. METHODS: A web-based survey of US adults was conducted to assess participants' ED access, estimates of the cost of visiting, and their overall levels of comfort in seeking emergency care. Statistical analyses performed in JMP 16.1 for the Mac. RESULTS: Multivariate regression modeling demonstrated that women (p = 0.0241), participants employed for wages (p = 0.0257), or self-employed (p = 0.0019) are less likely to visit the ED due to cost. Conversely, retired individuals are significantly less likely to encounter cost as a restriction (p = 0.0081). CONCLUSION: In a national survey sample that asked about whether cost was a factor in visiting the emergency department, women and people who worked for wages or were self-employed were most likely to think twice about cost.

Access to Healthcare in Rural Communities: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Introduction: Access to healthcare is defined by being able to receive regular checkups, specialist appointments, immunizations, procedures, and surgeries within a reasonable timeframe and without restrictive barriers. Methods: The Web of Science database was used to collect 4,745 articles published relating to the keywords "rural", "access", and "healthcare". These articles then underwent bibliometric cataloging by country, journal, and keyword using VOSviewer 1.6.19. Results: Between the years 2015 and 2022, the United States emerged as the predominant publisher in the field. From 2015 to 2019, the United States accounted for 47 percent of the total articles published. However, in the subsequent years of 2020 to 2022, there was a slight decline of 3 percent in the volume of U.S. publications. Australia secured the second position in terms of publications within the aforementioned timeframe of 2015 to 2022. England had the third most publications during the time between 2015 to 2022. The prevalence of articles containing the keyword "disparity" ranged between 7 percent and 12 percent throughout this period. Plus One exhibited prominence by contributing 5.025381 percent of all publications pertaining to access to rural medicine during the years 2015 to 2019 thereby establishing itself as the leading publisher in this domain. However, in 2020, the International Journal of Environment suppressed Plus One by publishing the highest number of articles related to rural healthcare. Subsequently, the BMC Health Services Research claimed the leading position in the years 2021 to 2022. Conclusion: An exploration of who is contributing to the discussion of access to healthcare in rural communities shows that the field and number of publications is growing, and that a focus on disparities is emerging, creating an environment surrounding rural health focused on researching equitable care.

The Doctor-Patient relationship: A bibliometric analysis.

Objective: Doctor-patient communication is an essential clinical practice necessary to improve overall patient experience and their adherence to treatment. This form of communication involves first, listening without interruptions and then, conveying information in a clear and concise manner. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted on publications extracted from the Web of Science database related to doctor-patient communication from 2012 to 2022 using the VOSviewer 1.6.15 software to visualize trends. Results: 20,376 articles were from 2012 to 2022 met the inclusion criteria of being recognized by the search phrase "physician-patient communication." Throughout the defined time period, USA, Canada, and Germany consistently took the top three positions in terms of publishing the most articles regarding the topic. Additionally, the Patient Education and Counseling Journal was the journal with the most publications regarding the topic. Innovation: A bibliometric analysis is a relatively novel way to frame research in a given area. It allows researchers to analyze trends in publication, and capture data from multiple disciplines. Conclusion: The number of articles published annually regarding doctor-patient communication has constantly been increasing from 2012-2022, demonstrating its importance as a crucial component of effective health care.

Subungual Hematoma.

The authors present the case of a 64-year-old male who presented to the emergency department due to foot trauma. He sustained a large subungual hematoma, which was drained. Following the procedure, the patient achieved complete resolution of his pain. He also reported no complications at two-week phone follow-up. The management of subungual hematoma, including the trephination procedure, is discussed. Potential complications, although rare, are reviewed.

Patellar Avulsion Fracture.

We report on the case of a 52-year-old male who sustained a transverse patellar fracture after tripping on uneven pavement. These fractures can be easy to miss on anteroposterior views, highlighting the importance of multiple radiographic views of the knee. Examination of the knee is also important, as initial clinical appearance can be benign. These fractures are most often seen in adolescents, which makes the current case somewhat unusual.

Jumping Trends In Trampoline-Related Craniofacial Injuries.

INTRODUCTION: In 1990, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the sale of trampolines cease in the United States. The risk of traumatic injury is well-documented, yet trampolines remain a growing source of recreation. Trampoline parks, in particular, are becoming a common entertainment attraction that can result in serious injury. There is currently a paucity of literature characterizing craniofacial injuries from trampoline use and plans to prevent these injuries. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System was conducted to analyze emergency department visits for trampoline-related craniofacial injuries in 1 to 20 year olds between 2013 and 2022. RESULTS: An estimated 206,866 trampoline-related craniofacial injuries occurred. Males suffered injuries 1.67 times more frequently than females. Injured sites included the head (41.0%), face (23.2%), neck (20.4%), mouth (11.9%), eyeball (2.0%), and ear (1.4%). The most common diagnoses were lacerations (28.9%), internal injuries (23.2%), strain/sprains (14.8%), contusions/abrasions (13.0%), and concussions (8.7%). Head internal injuries and facial lacerations significantly increased over the observed time period. DISCUSSION: Trampolines are a rising source of craniofacial trauma for America's youth. Children between 3 and 11 years old were disproportionately affected. Regulation over trampoline safety features remains limited in the United States. Future studies should aim to characterize the mechanisms of these injuries for the development of targeted safety measures.

Archery-Related Musculoskeletal Injuries: An Epidemiological Study Revealing Injury Sites, Risk Factors, and Implications for Prevention.

Objective: While generally considered a safe sport, archery injuries are often the result of overuse or penetration and largely affect the upper extremities. Studies have shown that during training periods the average risk of injury is 4.4%. By studying mechanisms of injury and their prevalence nationally, this study aims to educate coaches, athletes, and equipment manufacturers on ways the sport can be safer from a clinical perspective. Methods and Materials: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Database was queried to analyze archery-related musculoskeletal injuries that occurred between 2013 and 2022. Results: Approximately 43,083 injuries were recorded over a 10-year span, of which 8,038 were women and 35,367 were men. Men were thus 4.4 times more likely to experience injury during archery. Injury sites in men included the finger (66.2%), hand (17.1%), face (6.2%), shoulder (5.4%), and foot (5.1%). All reported injuries in women were finger-related. The most common diagnoses for men were lacerations (58.1%), fractures (12.7%), contusions and abrasions (7.5%), foreign body (5.9%), punctures (4.9%), and strains/sprains (4.9%). Women exclusively experienced lacerations, accounting for 100% of their injuries. Conclusion: The study identifies that lacerations were the most common archery-related injury that was treated in the ED. Additionally, the fingers were the most common site of injury. Findings from this study suggest that improved safety equipment, such as reinforced gloves, finger tabs, and forearm braces should be used by athletes to practice the sport more safely. Future research could involve studying injury rates in archers who use each combination of these safety precautions to investigate which gear is most protective.

Racial disparities in satisfaction with maternal healthcare.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a racial disparity in satisfaction with maternal healthcare, and examine the quality of care mothers of color receive. METHODS: An online survey of women in the United States who had been pregnant at least once was conducted. The study received an exempt determination by our Institution's Review Board. RESULTS: Race, age, income, were all significant indicators for whether a woman was satisfied with maternal healthcare measures. CONCLUSION: Race is one of many indicators for dissatisfaction with maternal healthcare. More in-depth research on patient perception of care is recommended.

Geographic Liver.

The authors present the case of a man with a relatively benign clinical presentation who had a computed tomography scan that revealed a "geographic liver" pattern. The radiologic appearance of hepatic steatosis, its significance, and its association with metabolic syndrome highlight the importance of this radiologic finding.

Sleep Hygiene, Daytime Sleepiness, and Coping Mechanisms Amongst US Adults.

Background Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) can be measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and has been shown to be prevalent in the United States. This study aimed to survey the levels of EDS in US adults and explore factors related to sleep hygiene. Methods An anonymous web-based survey was conducted, polling the frequency of hypersomnia symptoms, sleep quality, and time spent in their occupation. Respondents were at least 21 years of age and United States residents. Participants reported information related to age, gender, education, income, and race in addition to their responses to the survey questions. All data were analyzed using JMP 16.0. Results In our cohort of 200 adults, the median age was 40, with an interquartile range of 34-50 years. 48% were female. More than half of the cohort (53%) had severe or higher-normal EDS. Race (p=0.112), sex (p=0.426), age (p=0.063) shift work/shift timing (p=0.260), and screen time before bed (p=0.785) were not statistically significant for excessive daytime sleepiness. However, the length of participants' workdays (p=0.001) and their income levels (p=0.008) were found to be significantly associated with EDS. In other words, longer workdays and lower income levels were associated with an increased likelihood of falling asleep during inactive periods of the day. Conclusion Sleep deprivation and excessive daytime sleepiness are intertwined with sleep hygiene. This study highlights some of the possible issues that could lead to potential solutions.

Acute Cardioembolic Stroke in the Setting of Subtherapeutic Anticoagulation.

Acute ischemic stroke is a sudden neurological deficit secondary to decreased or lack of blood flow (perfusion) due to a thrombus or an embolus. Embolic strokes are ischemic strokes that occur due to a distal clot that results in hypoperfusion upstream. Cardioembolic strokes are embolic strokes due to a cardiac origin. Almost a quarter of ischemic strokes are of cardioembolic etiology. Here, we present the case of an 83-year-old female presenting with right-side weakness and aphasia who arrived 45 minutes after symptom onset. Cardioembolic stroke symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and risk factors are discussed.