RESUMEN
Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI) is a term encompassing traumatic carotid and vertebral artery dissection or disruption. While the reported incidence appears to be increasing as diagnostic modalities improve, these injuries are often diagnosed only after patients have developed acute neurologic symptoms. These injuries often result in severe permanent neurologic disability or death. The gold standard for diagnosis has historically been a 4-vessel arteriogram. However, newer data are suggesting that computed tomographic angiography may be more appropriate for most patients and new criteria for its utilization have been developed. We report a case of bilateral carotid dissection in a 23-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle collision (MVC). She initially presents with a normal neurologic exam and two hours later develops hemiparesis. She is treated with antiplatelet therapy and given intravascular catheter directed tissue plasminogen activator with carotid stent placement. Nonetheless, the patient goes on to require intubation and, ultimately, a tracheostomy and transfer to an inpatient rehabilitation setting due to continued hemiparesis. This case highlights the need for increased awareness of a potentially debilitating, life-threatening disease process. A high index of suspicion is required among emergency medicine physicians for early diagnosis and treatment of trauma patients with BCVI.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: This study investigates unintentional non-fatal golf-related injuries in the US using a nationally representative database. METHODS: This study analyzed golf-related injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments from 1990 through 2011 using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database. Injury rates were calculated using golf participation data. RESULTS: During 1990 through 2011, an estimated 663,471 (95% CI: 496,370-830,573) individuals ≥7years old were treated in US emergency departments for golf-related injuries, averaging 30,158 annually or 12.3 individuals per 10,000 golf participants. Patients 18-54years old accounted for 42.2% of injuries, but injury rates per 10,000 golf participants were highest among individuals 7-17years old (22.1) and ≥55years old (21.8) compared with 18-54years old (7.6). Patients ≥55years old had a hospital admission rate that was 5.01 (95% CI: 4.12-6.09) times higher than that of younger patients. Injured by a golf club (23.4%) or struck by a golf ball (16.0%) were the most common specified mechanisms of injury. The head/neck was the most frequently injured body region (36.2%), and sprain/strain (30.6%) was the most common type of injury. Most patients were treated and released (93.7%) and 5.9% required hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Although golf is a source of injury among all age groups, the frequency and rate of injury were higher at the two ends of the age spectrum. Given the higher injury and hospital admission rates of patients ≥55years, this age group merits the special attention of additional research and injury prevention efforts.