A review of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

ABSTRACT: Hip pain in children is common, with causes ranging from the benign to destructive. This article reviews slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), one of the most common hip pathologies in preadolescents and adolescents, which often is missed or delayed in diagnosis because of its vague, atypical presentation.

Reviewing acute hip fractures in adults.

ABSTRACT: Hip fractures are considered a significant public health issue, representing a substantial burden on our healthcare system and society. They are one of the leading causes of disability among older adults, especially women. Globally, an estimated 18% of women and 6% of men will be affected by hip fractures at some time in life. Hip fractures are a major cause of long-term disability among older adults and more significant than mortality, as only 60% of patients regain their preinjury level of mobility. This has detrimental effects on quality of life and activities of daily living, imposing a level of dependence that has personal, social, and systemic consequences.

Early clinical suspicion and treatment in a patient with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a complicated disease associated with paraneoplastic syndromes and autoimmune conditions. This case report highlights the importance of early identification and reviews the common clinical manifestations, diagnostic studies, and treatment modalities for this potentially catastrophic disease.

Management and treatment of animal bites.

Animal bites account for 1% of ED visits and more than $50 million in healthcare costs annually in the United States. Managing bite wounds can be challenging and providers must consider the patient's tetanus status, species of animal inflicting the bite, and infection risk. This article describes treatment and care of bites and when rabies prophylaxis is indicated.

The importance of nutrition in critically ill patients.

Metabolic and physiologic changes during critical illness can be protective mechanisms for hospitalized patients but increases their risk for malnutrition. Clinicians must assess patients' nutritional status during acute illness and determine their need for nutritional support. By understanding the physiologic changes and patients' metabolic adaptations to stress, clinicians can choose the appropriate assessment tool and type of nutritional support needed to improve outcomes in critically ill patients.

Recognizing and treating patients with envenomations.

Venomous spiders and snakes are found throughout the United States, and clinicians often encounter patients with suspected spider or snakebites. Due to the significant morbidity and mortality that can be related to a particular envenomation, clinicians must be able to recognize the species of spiders and snakes that are capable of delivering a venomous bite. Through proper species identification, recognition of the specific signs and symptoms that specific venom produces, and understanding the treatment guidelines for the envenomation, clinicians can properly diagnosis, treat, and manage patients with venomous bites.

Evaluating postoperative fever.

Fever is one of the most common postoperative complications seen in medical and surgical settings. Clinicians taking care of these patients need to be able to differentiate between a normal physiologic response to surgery and one that may be pathologic. Pathologic causes should be further separated into infectious and noninfectious causes. A systematic approach to febrile postoperative patients can help clinicians make better use of resources, limit costly workups, and improve patient outcomes.