COVID-19 pandemic, government responses, and public mental health: Investigating consequences through crisis hotline calls in two countries.

Rationale: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an immense global health threat that has invoked unheard-of containment measures in numerous countries to reduce the number of new infections.

Objective: The sequential introduction of severe measures, intentionally aiming at reducing the number of new infections, also imposes sharp restrictions on populations with potentially unintended, detrimental effects on public mental health.

Method: We used observational data reflecting the number of phone calls made to national crisis hotlines in Austria and Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2020-April 2020) to investigate the impact of government restrictions as well as their later revocations on public mental health.

Splintage in the treatment of sagittal band incompetence and extensor tendon subluxation.

Unlabelled: This study assessed the success of splintage for traumatic and atraumatic sagittal band incompetence and its relationship to the duration of symptoms before treatment. A retrospective review of all patients with sagittal band incompetence treated with splintage was performed. All patients had extensor tendon subluxation on physical examination.

Complications of hand fractures and their prevention.

Regardless of the clinician's technical skill, the results of hand fracture treatment may not be optimal. Tissue planes are damaged by the initial trauma, and surgical approaches to restore bony anatomy or develop tendon gliding further violate them with scarring producing adhesions and motion deficits. Close communication with therapists may help reduce complications.