Trick of the Trade: Fingertip injuries

Fingertips can get injured in a variety of ways such as machetes, meat grinders, and broken glass. You name it, and we’ve probably seen it. Some don’t actually need anything invasive done because the skin is basically just torn off. The wound just needs to be irrigated, explored, and then bandaged to allow for secondary wound closure.

What do you do if the finger injury keeps oozing and the finger tip is too painful for the patient to apply firm pressure? Poking the finger with 2 needles to perform a digital block seems a bit overkill.

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2020-02-12T20:41:43-08:00Jun 8, 2011|Orthopedic, Trauma, Tricks of the Trade|

I have heard of using tea bags under your eyes to reduce puffiness, but to combat odors in the ED?

In my growing list of “Tricks of the Trade” tips for protecting your olfactory nerves (Antacid booties for toxic sock syndrome, aerosolized orange juice, abscess drainage using suction), I got a clinical gem from Dr. James Juarez (Rogue Valley Medical Center in Ashland, OR) after my recent Tricks of the Trade talk at High Risk EM in San Francisco.

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-02-19T18:41:48-08:00Jun 1, 2011|Tricks of the Trade|

Trick of the Trade: Ring removal from a finger

A patient presents with a swollen finger after falling and fracturing it. The patient is more distraught by the fact that she can’t get the ring off her finger. She implores you not to cut the ring off.

There are textbook chapters written about tightly wrapping the digit with string from distal-to-proximal and sliding the string under the ring. Theoretically, the provider can pull and unwind the proximal end of the string to gradually coax the ring over the coils of string.

I have personally found little luck with this maneuver.

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2016-11-11T18:53:07-08:00May 25, 2011|Tricks of the Trade|

Trick of the trade: Improve your ability to detect a cerebellar lesion

The finger-to-nose exam is typically used to detect a cerebellar lesion. In subtle cases though, this can be be difficult to detect.

How can you improve your sensitivity of this exam?

Trick of the trade: Elbows up!

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-01-28T22:48:48-08:00May 18, 2011|Neurology, Tricks of the Trade|

Have you ever been to an ultrasound workshop where each small group of attendees huddles around the small ultrasound display? Personally I think the 3 people closest to the display really see the images well. This tends to exclude the other participants.

Last week, I hosted (my first!) ultrasound workshop for the UCSF Alumni CME Conference where I showed peri-retired UCSF alumni from various specialties about the future of bedside ultrasonography. I equated it to the 21st century stethoscope. Thanks to my star team of ultrasonographers: Dr. Asaravala, Flores, Miss, Lenaghan, and Wilson.

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2016-11-11T18:54:22-08:00May 11, 2011|Tricks of the Trade, Ultrasound|

Trick of the Trade: Temperomandibular (TMJ) dislocation

Mandible, or TMJ, dislocations occur when the patient excessively opens the mouth, such as in a yawn. They are typically bilateral and are difficult to relocate because of masseter and medial pterygoid muscle spasm. You can relocate the condyles back into the TMJ space with gentle but firm intraoral pressure inferiorly and posteriorly. Often it requires some sedation to help relax the muscles of mastication.

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-01-28T22:49:39-08:00May 4, 2011|ENT, Tricks of the Trade|

In my theme of detoxifying malodorous smells in the ED, I recently learned of a new way of masking odors. Imagine the stress on your olfactory nerves from the combined effects of urinary and fecal incontinence from a nursing home patient.

An ingenious nurse proposed nebulizing actual coffee within the room. Unfortunately, our ED was out of coffee at the moment.

(more…)

By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-01-28T22:40:09-08:00Apr 27, 2011|Tricks of the Trade|

Previous 1···21 22 23 24 25 262728 29 30 31 32 33···40 Next