The current role of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing cervical spine injury in blunt trauma patients with negative computed tomography scan.

Clearance of cervical spine (CS) precautions in the neurologically altered blunt trauma patient can be difficult. Physical examination is not reliable, and although computed tomography (CT) may reveal no evidence of fracture, it is generally believed to be an inferior modality for assessing ligamentous and cord injuries. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is expensive and may be risky in critically ill patients.

Laser Doppler imaging for early detection of hemorrhage.

Background: Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI) is a noninvasive means to measure blood flow through the superficial skin capillary plexus using flux units. Our objective was to determine the ability of LDI of the skin to detect and quantify rapid, severe hemorrhage.

Methods: Five Yucatan mini-pigs (25-35 kg) underwent controlled hemorrhage of 25 mL/kg blood for 20 minutes.

Risk factors for traumatic injury findings on thoracic computed tomography among patients with blunt trauma having a normal chest radiograph.

Hypothesis: We sought to identify risk factors that might predict acute traumatic injury findings on thoracic computed tomography (TCT) among patients having a normal initial chest radiograph (CR).

Design: In this retrospective analysis, Abbreviated Injury Score cutoffs were chosen to correspond with obvious physical examination findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors predicting acute traumatic injury findings.

Epidemiology and risk factors for hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among burn patients.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a substantial source of morbidity among burn patients. The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility and efficacy of surveillance cultures and isolation precautions on limiting the transmission of MRSA among burn patients and to determine risk factors for the development of hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA). All patients admitted to the burn service from January 2007 to June 2009 were screened by nasal swab culture on admission and weekly thereafter.

Cartilage regeneration in the rabbit nasal septum.

Objective: Rhinoplasty frequently includes harvesting of nasal septal cartilage. The objective of this prospective basic investigation is to determine whether cartilage can regenerate after submucosal resection (SMR) of the nasal septum in the rabbit. Neocartilage formation has not heretofore been described in this model.