AIR Series: Orthopedics Lower Extremity Module (2016)

Welcome to the Orthopedics Lower Extremity Module! After carefully reviewing all relevant posts from the top 50 sites of the Social Media Index the ALiEM AIR Team is proud to present the highest quality orthopedic lower extremity content. Below we have listed our selection of the 3 highest quality blog posts within the past 12 months (as of March 2016) related to orthopedic lower extremity emergencies, curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. More specifically in this module, we identified 1 AIRs and 2 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 1 hour (20 minutes per article) of III credit for this module.

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By Andrew Grock, MD|2020-09-04T11:01:23-07:00Jul 1, 2016|Approved Instructional Resources (AIR series), Orthopedic|

Lumbar Puncture on an Anticoagulated Patient in the Emergency Department: Is it safe?

The lumbar puncture (LP) procedure is commonly performed in the Emergency Department (ED). While minor complications of LP such as post-procedure headache or back pain occur somewhat regularly, significant complications such as post-procedural spinal hematomas, are rare.¹ Despite their low incidence, these spinal hematomas are associated with a significant amount of morbidity for the patient and increased medicolegal risk for the provider.

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By Matthew DeLaney, MD|2016-11-11T19:47:00-08:00Jun 27, 2016|Heme-Oncology, Medicolegal, Neurology|

Ultrasound For The Win! – 63M with an Erythematous Abdomen #US4TW

Welcome to another ultrasound-based case, part of the “Ultrasound For The Win!” (#US4TW) Case Series. In this case series, we focus on a real clinical case where bedside ultrasound changed the management or aided in the diagnosis. In this case, a 63-year-old man presents with a painful, warm, and erythematous area of his abdomen.

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By Jeffrey Shih, MD, RDMS|2017-07-19T00:06:42-07:00Jun 20, 2016|Infectious Disease, Ultrasound, Ultrasound for the Win|

Diagnose on Sight: Swollen Leg

Case: A 58 year-old female presents with a one-day history of worsening right lower extremity pain and swelling, and an acute onset of dyspnea. Her past medical history consists of stage IV renal cell carcinoma diagnosed six months previously. Triage vitals are remarkable for a heart rate of 120 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 68/48 mmHg. What is the diagnosis?

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By Peter Reardon, MD|2016-12-22T18:13:01-08:00Jun 14, 2016|Cardiovascular, Diagnose on Sight|

Top 5 FOAM Radiology Resources: ALiEM Chief Resident Incubator Recommendations

There is no shortage of free open access medical education (FOAM) resources available to the current emergency medicine (EM) learner. It seems that no matter what the concept, FOAM has it covered. And radiology is no different. However, with a specialty as vast as radiology, finding educational material pertinent to the emergency practitioner can be overwhelming. The 2016-2017 ALiEM Chief Resident (CRincubator) class also encountered this when attempting to create an organized FOAM radiology curriculum for EM residents. To tackle this challenge, the chief residents have brought together the best online resources to help EM practitioners gain expertise in the field of radiology.

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By Christian Rose, MD|2019-02-19T18:45:13-08:00Jun 9, 2016|Incubators, Radiology, Social Media & Tech|

PV Card: Ankle and Hindfoot Fractures | Quick Reference Guide

Orthopedic fractures and injuries are commonly managed in the emergency department. Often a quick bedside reference card is needed to remind the clinician about the acute management and follow-up instructions. Thanks to the efforts of a 2015-16 ALiEM Chief Resident Incubator team, we are pleased to announce the first of these reference cards. Ankle and hindfoot fractures covered include ankle malleolar fractures, talus, and calcaneus fractures. These cards were expert reviewed by Dr. Scott Sherman, co-editor of the Emergency Orthopedics textbook and illustrations were created by Dr. Mary Haas.

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By Layla Abubshait, MD|2021-10-04T09:45:52-07:00Jun 6, 2016|ALiEM Cards, Orthopedic|

5 Tips for Managing Pain in Older Adults

Pain is the most common reason people seek care in Emergency Departments. In addition to diagnosing the cause of the pain, a major goal of emergency physicians (EPs) is to relieve pain. However, medications that treat pain can have their own set of problems and side effects. The risks of treatment are particularly pronounced in older adults, who are often more sensitive to the sedating effects of medications, and are more prone to side effects such as renal failure. EPs frequently have to find the balance between controlling pain and preventing side effects. Untreated pain has large personal, emotional, and financial costs, and more effective, multi-modal pain management can help reduce the burden that acute and chronic pain place on patients.¹ There is evidence that older adults are less likely to receive pain medication in the ED.^2,3 The first step to improving, is being aware of the potential tendency to under-treat pain in older adults. Here are 5 tips to help you effectively manage pain in older adults on your next shift.

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By Christina Shenvi, MD, PhD, MBA|2016-12-16T15:29:06-08:00May 25, 2016|CME, Geriatrics, Tox & Medications|