Prevalence of intimate partner violence across medical and surgical health care settings: a systematic review.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious health problem and a leading cause of nonfatal injury in North American females. Prevalence of IPV has ranged from less than 20% to more than 50% across primary care, emergency medicine, and family medicine. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to examine best estimates of IPV prevalence as opportunities for targeted interventions in health care specialties.

Management of pelvic ring fracture patients with a pelvic "blush" on early computed tomography.

Background: The sliding computed tomographic (CT) scanner in our trauma resuscitation room can be used early in the assessment of pelvic ring fracture patients. We determined the association between the presence of a pelvic blush on CT scan and the need for pelvic hemorrhage control (PHC). We hypothesized that many pelvic blushes found early in the resuscitation phase can be safely managed without intervention.

Study protocol: non-displaced distal radial fractures in adult patients: three weeks vs. five weeks of cast immobilization: a randomized trial.

Background: Up to 30% of patients suffer from long-term functional restrictions following conservative treatment of distal radius fractures. Whether duration of cast immobilisation influences functional outcome remains unclear.

Methods/design: The aim of the study is to evaluate whether the duration of immobilization of non or minimally displaced distal radial fractures can be safely reduced.

Radiological work-up after mass casualty incidents: are ATLS guidelines applicable?

Objectives: In mass casualty incidents (MCI) a large number of patients need to be evaluated and treated fast. Well-designed radiological guidelines can save lives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) radiological guidelines in the MCI of an aeroplane crash.

Wound infections following open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneal fractures with an extended lateral approach.

Purpose: Post-operative wound infections (PWI) following calcaneal fracture surgery can lead to prolonged hospital stay and additional treatment with antibiotics, surgical debridement or implant removal. Our aim was to determine the incidence of superficial and deep PWI and to identify risk factors (RF).

Methods: This study is a retrospective case series.

Surgeons are overlooking post-discharge complications: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: The registration of surgical complications is an important quality indicator of hospital medical care. Previous research has suggested that surgeons only record certain complications after discharge. The extent and impact of this potential under-recording of post-discharge complications is unknown.

Complications following volar locking plate fixation for distal radial fractures: a systematic review.

The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the prevalence of complications following volar locking plate fixation of distal radial fractures. A computer-based search was carried out using EMBASE and PUBMED/MEDLINE. Only prospective comparative and prospective cohort studies that presented data concerning complications after treatment of distal radial fractures with a volar locking plate in human adults with a minimal follow-up of 6 months were included.

The PanAM study: a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized, non-inferiority study of paracetamol versus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in treating acute musculoskeletal trauma.

Background: Acute musculoskeletal trauma, including strains, sprains or contusions, occur frequently. Pain management is a crucial component of treatment. However, there is no convincing evidence which drug is superior in managing pain in these patients.

Incidental findings on total-body CT scans in trauma patients.

Introduction: Total-body Computed Tomography (CT) scans are increasingly used in trauma care. Herewith the observation of incidental findings, trauma unrelated findings, is also increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the number of incidental findings in adult trauma patients.

A case-matched series of immediate total-body CT scanning versus the standard radiological work-up in trauma patients.

Background: In recent years computed tomography (CT) has become faster and more available in the acute trauma care setting. The aim of the present study was to compare injured patients who underwent immediate total-body CT (TBCT) scanning with patients who underwent the standard radiological work-up with respect to 30-day mortality.

Methods: Between January 2009 and April 2011, 152 consecutive patients underwent immediate TBCT scanning as part of a prospective pilot study.

Clinical relevance of routinely measured vital signs in hospitalized patients: a systematic review.

Background: Conflicting evidence exists on the effectiveness of routinely measured vital signs on the early detection of increased probability of adverse events.

Purpose: To assess the clinical relevance of routinely measured vital signs in medically and surgically hospitalized patients through a systematic review.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Meta-analysen van diagnostisch onderzoek (in Dutch; MEDION) were searched to January 2013.

Walkouts from the emergency department: characteristics, reasons and medical care needs.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the walkout rate and to identify influencing patient and visit characteristics on walkout. Furthermore, we assessed the reasons for leaving and medical care needs after leaving.

Methods: In a 4-month population-based cohort study, the characteristics and influencing factors of walkout from two emergency departments in the Netherlands were studied.

Multiple testing in orthopedic literature: a common problem?

Background: Performing multiple tests in primary research is a frequent subject of discussion. This discussion originates from the fact that when multiple tests are performed, it becomes more likely to reject one of the null hypotheses, conditional on that these hypotheses are true and thus commit a type one error. Several correction methods for multiple testing are available.

Routine urinalysis in patients with a blunt abdominal trauma mechanism is not valuable to detect urogenital injury.

Objective: To investigate whether the routine performance of urinalysis in patients with a blunt trauma mechanism is still valuable.

Methods: Consecutive patients aged ≥16 years, admitted to a Dutch Level 1 trauma centre between January 2008 and August 2011, were included in this retrospective cohort study. Results of urinalysis (erythrocytes per µL) were divided into no, microscopic or macroscopic haematuria.

Indications for implant removal following intra-articular calcaneal fractures and subsequent complications.

Introduction: Implant removal following operative calcaneal fracture treatment has received little attention in the literature. The aim of the current retrospective cohort study was to assess the indications and number of wound complications following calcaneal plate removal.

Methods: All consecutive adult patients who had their plate and screws removed following the operative treatment of a closed uni- or bilateral intra-articular calcaneal fracture using a stainless steel nonlocking calcaneal plate between 2000 and 2011 were included.

[Treatment of primary anterior shoulder dislocation; do not always treat conservatively].

According to the current guidelines, primary anterior shoulder dislocations are treated conservatively after repositioning by short-term immobilisation of the shoulder. Shoulder stabilization surgery--either open or arthroscopically--reduces the risk of recurrence and improves the functional outcome over the long term. Active young adults are known to have up to a 90% increased risk of recurrent dislocation after the conservative treatment of a primary shoulder dislocation.

External validation of the Emergency Trauma Score for early prediction of mortality in trauma patients.

Objectives: The Emergency Trauma Score has been developed for early estimation of mortality risk in adult trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score of 16 or higher. Emergency Trauma Score combines four early predictors available at the trauma resuscitation room: age, Glasgow Coma Scale, base excess, and prothrombin time. Our goal was to validate the Emergency Trauma Score in two large external cohorts.

Functional outcome following a locked fracture-dislocation of the calcaneus.

Purpose: Locked fracture-dislocations of the calcaneus are uncommon, and a substantial number of these injuries is not recognised or is misdiagnosed at first presentation. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome in patients with this injury.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients who sustained a uni- or bilateral calcaneal fracturedislocation.

Radiation exposure before and after the introductionof a dedicated total-body CT protocolin multitrauma patients.

Total-body CT (TBCT) scanning in trauma patients is being increasingly used in trauma assessment. One of the major disadvantages of CT scanning is the amount of radiation exposure involved. The aim of this study was to assess the number of radiological investigations and their associated radiation exposure in multitrauma patients before and after the introduction of a total-body CT protocol as a primary diagnostic tool.

Internet-based early intervention to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder in injury patients: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops in 10-20% of injury patients. We developed a novel, self-guided Internet-based intervention (called Trauma TIPS) based on techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to prevent the onset of PTSD symptoms.

Objective: To determine whether Trauma TIPS is effective in preventing the onset of PTSD symptoms in injury patients.

[Necrotising soft-tissue infections: diagnostics and treatment].

Necrotising soft-tissue infections occur in the soft tissue compartment consisting of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, superficial fascia (fascia of Scarpa), deep fascia and muscle. Although this severe and acutely life-threatening infection has a low incidence, both GPs and specialists will see a necrotizing soft-tissue infection more than once during their career. The mortality related to necrotising soft-tissue infections has been halved during the past 15 years from nearly 40 to 20% due to adequate treatment.

Evaluation of reduction and fixation of calcaneal fractures: a Delphi consensus.

Background: Postoperative radiological assessment of the quality of reduction and fixation of calcaneal fractures is essential when evaluating treatment success. However, a universally accepted radiological evaluation protocol is currently unavailable. The aim of this study was to obtain an expert-based consensus on the most important criteria for the radiological assessment of the quality of reduction and fixation of calcaneal fractures.

Functional outcome in patients with unstable distal radius fractures, volar locking plate versus external fixation: a meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to compare bridging external fixation with volar locked plating in patients with unstable distal radial fractures regarding functional outcome. A systematic search was performed in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline and EMBASE. All randomized controlled trials that compared bridging external fixation directly with volar locked plating in patients with distal radial fractures were considered.