Usefulness of Pelvic Radiographs in the Initial Trauma Evaluation with Concurrent CT: Is Additional Radiation Exposure Necessary?

Trauma patients in a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center may undergo CT of the abdomen and pelvis with concurrent radiograph during initial evaluation in an attempt to diagnose injury. To determine if plain digital radiograph of the pelvis adds additional information in the initial trauma evaluation when CT of the abdomen and pelvis is also performed, trauma patients who presented to an urban Level I Pediatric Trauma Center between 1 January 2010 and 7 February 2017 in whom pelvic radiograph and CT of the abdomen and pelvis were performed within 24 hours of each other were analyzed. A total of 172 trauma patients had pelvic radiograph and CT exams performed within 24 hours of each other. There were 12 cases in which the radiograph missed pelvic fractures seen on CT and 2 cases in which the radiograph suspected a fracture that was not present on subsequent CT. Furthermore, fractures in the pelvis were missed on pelvic radiographs in 12 of 35 cases identified on CT. Sensitivity of pelvic radiograph in detecting fractures seen on CT was 65.7% with a 95% confidence interval of 47.79-80.87%. Results suggest that there is no added diagnostic information gained from a pelvic radiograph when concurrent CT is also obtained, a practice which exposes the pediatric trauma patient to unnecessary radiation

Usefulness of Pelvic Radiographs in the Initial Trauma Evaluation with Concurrent CT: Is Additional Radiation Exposure Necessary?

Trauma patients in a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center may undergo CT of the abdomen and pelvis with concurrent radiograph during initial evaluation in an attempt to diagnose injury. To determine if plain digital radiograph of the pelvis adds additional information in the initial trauma evaluation when CT of the abdomen and pelvis is also performed, trauma patients who presented to an urban Level I Pediatric Trauma Center between 1 January 2010 and 7 February 2017 in whom pelvic radiograph and CT of the abdomen and pelvis were performed within 24 hours of each other were analyzed. A total of 172 trauma patients had pelvic radiograph and CT exams performed within 24 hours of each other. There were 12 cases in which the radiograph missed pelvic fractures seen on CT and 2 cases in which the radiograph suspected a fracture that was not present on subsequent CT. Furthermore, fractures in the pelvis were missed on pelvic radiographs in 12 of 35 cases identified on CT. Sensitivity of pelvic radiograph in detecting fractures seen on CT was 65.7% with a 95% confidence interval of 47.79-80.87%. Results suggest that there is no added diagnostic information gained from a pelvic radiograph when concurrent CT is also obtained, a practice which exposes the pediatric trauma patient to unnecessary radiation

The management of paediatric burns with Burns and Wounds ointment and burdock leaves: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: In the Amish community, natural therapies, such as Burns and Wounds (B&W) ointment and burdock leaves, are preferred over modern medicine when treating burn wounds. The primary aim of this case series is to highlight the use and clinical outcomes of this treatment for paediatric Amish patients. METHOD: At the a paediatric burn centre, two patients were treated with B&W ointment and burdock leaves. The first patient was 11 months old with 17% total body surface area (TBSA) partial and full-thickness scald burns to her lower extremities. The second patient was 24 months old with 20% TBSA partial-thickness scald burns to the torso, bilateral upper extremities, neck and chin. RESULTS: Soon after presentation to the hospital, both patients developed positive wound cultures and required cessation of ointment and burdock leaf therapy. Both patients ultimately underwent surgical interventions. CONCLUSION: Managing burn wounds with B&W ointment and burdock leaves should be considered as an additional option for wound care in select cases. However, the efficacy of this therapy is limited and standard-of-care modern medical burn treatments should remain an option for these patients. It is critically important to build a mutually respectful relationship with Amish patients\u27 community leaders, as this allows open communication and collaboration in patient care and increases the likelihood that Amish guardians will bring their children to a hospital when necessary

Pain Control in a Pediatric Patient With Sickle Cell Disease Using Regional Nerve Blocks for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Case Report.

The sickle cell patient population continues to provide challenges in pain control. Current therapies include narcotic usage with adjuvant therapies such as anti-inflammatories and nonpharmacological interventions. Poor pain management in the sickle cell patient population, especially postoperatively, can lead to hypoventilation, escalating opioid requirements, poor recovery, and longer hospital stays. This case report addresses a novel addition of ultrasound-guided paravertebral and rectus sheath blocks postinduction of general anesthesia and before surgical incision to assist with the intravenous postoperative pain management regimen after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a 10-year-old boy with sickle cell disease

The Use of an Autologous Cell Harvesting and Processing Device to Decrease Surgical Procedures and Expedite Healing in Two Pediatric Burn Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Autologous cell harvesting and processing devices are designed to facilitate the harvesting of cells using enzymatic and physical disruption techniques to immediately apply non-cultured autologous cell suspension (ACS) to the wound area. OBJECTIVE: This case report evaluates clinical outcomes following application of cellular suspension with split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) as an adjunct for definitive closure of burn injuries and donor sites in 2 pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cases were performed under a humanitarian use protocol following institutional review board approval at St. Christopher\u27s Hospital for Children (Philadelphia, PA). RESULTS: The first patient was a 4-year-old girl with partial- and full-thickness (32% total body surface area) burn injuries of her head, trunk, flank, arms, thighs, and feet. The patient was discharged 19 days following ACS treatment. The second patient was an 18-month-old girl with partial- and full-thickness (21% total body surface area) burns involving the bilateral lower extremities. She was discharged 22 days after ACS treatment with widely meshed autograft. Neither patient required additional surgical interventions. All treatment and donor areas for both patients remained uninfected and neither patient experienced any unexpected treatment-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: These cases are the first of their kind reported in the pediatric population and suggest ACS in conjunction with STSGs can help decrease surgical procedures and expedite healing in pediatric patients with large surface burns