Alpine ski and snowboarding traumatic injuries: incidence, injury patterns, and risk factors for 10 years.

Background: Alpine skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports in Canada. Every year participation in these activities results in traumatic injury. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and injury patterns, as well as risk factors associated with ski and snowboarding injuries.

Ten years of major equestrian injury: are we addressing functional outcomes?

Background: Horseback riding is considered more dangerous than motorcycle riding, skiing, automobile racing, football and rugby. The integral role of rehabilitation therapy in the recovery of patients who have sustained a major horse-related injury is previously not described. The goals of this paper were to (1) define the incidence and pattern of severe equestrian trauma, (2) identify the current level of in-patient rehabilitation services, (3) describe functional outcomes for patients, and (4) discuss methods for increasing rehabilitation therapy in this unique population.

Chest tube complications: how well are we training our residents?

Background: Thoracic trauma is commonly treated with tube thoracostomy. The overall complication rate associated with this procedure is up to 30% among all operators. The primary purpose of this study was to define the incidence and risk factors for complications in chest tubes placed exclusively by resident physicians.

Traumatic Injury of the Superior Mesenteric Vein: Ligate, Repair or Shunt?

We report a case of SMV injury in a critically ill patient. The patient was a 19-year-old woman involved in a motor vehicle collision. Her injuries included grade II splenic and renal lacerations, devascularized and lacerated right and transverse colon, a transected transverse mesocolon, a massive shear injury of her abdominal wall, and two partial SMV transections.

Equestrian injuries: incidence, injury patterns, and risk factors for 10 years of major traumatic injuries.

Background: Horseback riding is more dangerous than motorcycle riding, skiing, football, and rugby. The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and injury patterns, as well as risk factors associated with severe equestrian trauma.

Methods: All patients with major equestrian injuries (injury severity score > or = 12) admitted between 1995 and 2005 were reviewed.

The impact of multiple casualty incidents on clinical outcomes.

Background: Multiple casualty incidents (MCI) highlight discrepancies between patient needs and available resources. It is generally thought that heavy patient loads adversely affect trauma health care delivery. The purpose of this study was to identify the impact of multiple casualty situations on the clinical outcomes of injured patients.

Minimal postoperative pain using properitoneal nontension sutured repair of direct inguinal hernias.

Background: Numerous repairs exist for direct inguinal hernias. These repairs are limited by the shortcomings of their respective technique. Reported recurrence rates for all currently employed hernia repairs for direct inguinal hernias range from 1% to 10%.