Prescription medication use by emergency department doctors to improve work and academic performance, and to manage stress and anxiety.

Objective: To determine medications used by ED doctors to improve work and academic performance, and to manage stress and anxiety.

Methods: We undertook an online, voluntary, anonymous survey of ACEM fellows and trainees.

Results: One hundred and thirty-nine (46.

Randomized comparison of tape versus semi-rigid and versus lace-up ankle support in the treatment of acute lateral ankle ligament injury.

Purpose: Functional treatment is the optimal non-surgical treatment for acute lateral ankle ligament injury (ALALI) in favour of immobilization treatment. There is no single most effective functional treatment (tape, semi-rigid brace or lace-up brace) based on currently available randomized trials.

Methods: This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the difference in functional outcome after treatment with tape versus semi-rigid versus lace-up ankle support (brace) for grades II and III ALALIs.

Mid-term (2-8 years) follow-up of open reduction and internal fixation of patella fractures: does the surgical technique influence the outcome?

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of internal fixation of patella fractures, comparing tension band wiring techniques with proximal only and proximally and distally bend Kirschner wires (K-wires).

Methods: Over a period of 6 years, 60 patients met the criteria to be included in this study of which 40 were available for mid-term (2-8 years) clinical and radiological follow-up.

Results: Out of 60, 9 failures of fixation occurred, 3 due to migration of the K-wires and 6 because of insufficient tensioning of the tension band.