Sporotrichosis in a U.S. Army Basic Trainee.

Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis is a mycotic disease caused by traumatic inoculation of the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii, found ubiquitously in decaying vegetation. The potential for outbreaks, difficulty with timely diagnosis, as well as the prolonged treatment course and recovery from surgical intervention can have a substantial impact on the medical readiness of service members. Treatment with the antifungal therapy of choice, itraconazole, requires close patient monitoring for the duration of treatment for clinical response, drug tolerance, as well as therapeutic drug levels.

Empirical Treatment of Uncomplicated Septic Olecranon Bursitis Without Aspiration.

Purpose: Although aspiration of septic olecranon bursitis is recommended in the literature, no high-level evidence exists to support this practice. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the results of traditional bursal aspiration (TBA) with empirical management without aspiration (EM). We hypothesized that EM of uncomplicated septic olecranon bursitis results in resolution, with fewer chronic draining sinuses and less progression to bursectomy.

Special Operations Force Risk Reduction: Integration of Expeditionary Surgical and Resuscitation Teams.

Hemorrhage in the presurgical setting has been the most significant cause of death on the battlefield. Damage control surgery (DCS) near the point of injury (POI) is not a new concept, but having conventional medical teams supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF) beyond robust military medical infrastructure is unique for the US military. The Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical Team (ERST) was formed by the US Army Medical Command as a pilot team to fulfill a request for forces to provide DCS and personnel recovery near POI.

Debridement and Irrigation: Evolution and Current Recommendations.

Debridement is an integral step in the orthopaedic management of traumatic wounds, from open soft tissue injuries and routine open fracture care to the management of extensive high-energy blast injuries. While the necessity of debridement has been well established, the level of energy and degree of contamination of blast wounds encountered in recent armed conflict has offered a challenge and a new opportunity for military surgeons to revisit the most recent literature to guide our practice with the best evidence currently available. While the core tenants of removing the nonviable tissue and preserving the viable to maintain the best functional outcome have not changed, new wound care therapies and advances in prosthetics and salvage techniques and the ability to rapidly evacuate casualties have changed the approach to care provided on the front lines.

Use of intraoperative temporary invasive distraction to reduce a chronic talar neck fracture-dislocation.

Temporary invasive distraction can facilitate fracture reduction in the setting of delayed surgical intervention resulting in shortening and contracted soft tissues.

Acute morbidity and complications of thigh compartment syndrome: A report of 26 cases.

Background: To describe the patient population, etiology, and complications associated with thigh compartment syndrome (TCS). TCS is a rare condition, affecting less than 0.3% of trauma patients, caused by elevated pressure within a constrained fascial space which can result in tissue necrosis, fibrosis, and physical impairment in addition to other complications.

Thigh compartment syndrome, presentation and complications.

To describe the patient population, etiology, and complications associated with thigh compartment syndrome (TCS). TCS is a rare (0.3% of trauma patients) condition of elevated pressure within a constrained space that may cause necrosis of all tissues within the compartment resulting in severe local (infection, amputation) and systemic complications (renal insufficiency, even death).

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: clinical and radiographic results and complications in 100 consecutive patients.

Objective: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 100 consecutive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIFs) performed at one institution. The preoperative diagnoses included degenerative disk disease (55), spondylolisthesis (41; 22 isthmic, 19 degenerative), and degenerative adult scoliosis (4). There were 64 single-level, 33 two-level, 2 three-level, and 1 four-level TLIF (140 levels).