SplintER Series: Ankle and Foot Pain in a Child

iselin disease xray

A 10-year-old female dancer presents with sub-acute onset pain located in her lateral ankle and foot without any history of significant trauma. She has had similar pain occasionally over the past 6 months. Pain is worse while dancing and now has difficulty putting on her shoe. You obtain a foot x-ray and see the adjacent image (photo credit).

What is the most likely diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and appropriate management plan?

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SAEM Clinical Image Series: Foreign Body Ingestion

foreign body ingestion

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Chief complaint: Foreign Body Ingestion

History of Present Illness:

A 4-year-old male presents to the Pediatric ED for evaluation of swallowed foreign body.

The mother reports the patient was at his grandmother’s house playing near a cabinet when they witnessed him put a small unknown object in his mouth and swallow. Family denies vomiting, difficulty breathing, change in behavior, abdominal pain, or any additional symptoms at this time.

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SAEM Clinical Image Series: Young Woman with a Headache

Headache

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Chief complaint: Headaches for 1 year

History of Present Illness: A 31-year-old woman with no significant past history presents with a dull headache.

She notes the headache is generalized, has been almost daily for a year and is worsened by bending over. She denies nausea, vomiting, photophobia, trauma, seizures, focal weakness, numbness, or vision change. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen provide only mild, short-acting relief. She takes oral birth control and her periods have been normal.

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SplintER Series: Funny Looking Finger

right 5th digit xray mallet finger

Figure 1: Terminal extensor tendon avulsion at distal interphalangeal joint of 5th digit

A 17-year-old baseball player presents complaining of finger pain and difficulty straightening his finger after a baseball game. You obtain x-rays and see the following fracture (photo credit).

What is your diagnosis and emergency department management?

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Differentiating pericardial effusion from pericardial tamponade on ultrasound

Tamponade physiology, in which a pericardial effusion impedes cardiac output, is a medical emergency and requires prompt diagnosis and intervention before cardiovascular collapse ensues. However, not every fluid collection in the pericardial sac results in tamponade physiology. A clinical diagnosis of tamponade (Beck’s triad) has poor sensitivity and will occur only in the late stages of tamponade.​1​ In order to know whether or not an intervention is necessary for the setting of pericardial effusion, ultrasound diagnosis of tamponade is paramount. 

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By |2019-08-30T10:13:06-07:00Aug 28, 2019|Cardiovascular, Radiology, Ultrasound|

PEM Pearls: 5 Tips to Demystify Amoxicillin in Pediatric Infections

Amoxicillin is a penicillin derivative antibiotic against susceptible gram positive and gram negative bacteria. It has reasonable coverage for most upper respiratory infections and is used as prophylaxis for asplenia and bacterial endocarditis. This post aims to demystify amoxicillin treatment for common pediatric infections.

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