Question

(Please note the prior version of this pearl was incorrect with respect to the images referenced. This version is corrected.)

Patient s/p blunt chest trauma. CXR (image 1) vs. lung ultrasound (image 2), do you see any inconsistencies?

 

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Question

44 y/o female restrained driver s/p motor vehicle crash complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. 

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Lidocaine with Epinephrine and it use on Fingers and Toes

It has been taught for a long time that Lidocaine with Epinephrine should not be used on fingers, toes, ears and nose [There has to be a kid's song in there somewhere] due to the risk of vasoconstricition/vasospasm and possible digitial infarcation.

The short story is that this practice is not supported by the literature, and there are now numerous publications that have shown that lidocaine with epinephrine is safe for use on the finger tips.  It turns out the the original case reports were submitted with procaine and epinephrine and not lidocaine with epinephrine.  Most of the cases of digital infarction where with straight procaine that is now thought to have been contaiminated or too acidic pH close to 1 when injected.

The effects of epinephrine last approximately 6 hours. This time is well within the accepted limit of ischemia for fingers that has been established in digitial replanation.

So why use Lidocaine with Epinephrine:

1. Provides a longer period of anesthesia
2. Decreases bleeding which:
   1. Improves visualization of tendons and underlying structures
   2. Makes repairs easier
   3. Decreases need for a torniquet

 

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Seat Belt Sign:

• Patients with a seat belt sign have a high risk of hollow viscus injury
• Often have a negative CT scan
• Admit for serial exams and observation, at an absolute minimum patient should be watched 6 hours.
• Look for associated Lumbar Chance Fractures.

Traumatic Ankle Pain When examining a patient who presents with Ankle Pain, make sure that you examine/palpate the proximal fibula and the base of the fifth metatarsal. Pain over the proximal fibula will necessitate a full Tibia/Fibula x-ray to rule out a Maisonneuve Fracture [a proximal fracture of fibula resulting from external rotation; injury may occur with medial or posterior malleolus fracture, a ligament rupture, as well as rupture of interosseous membrane. Pain over the base of the 5th metatarsal suggests a Jones Fracture [ involves fx at base of fifth metatarsal at metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction, which typically extends into the 4-5 intermetatarsal facet; is located w/in 1.5 cm distal to tuberosity of 5th metatarsal & should not be confused w/ more common avulsion fx (Dancer s Fracture) of 5th metatarsal styloid]

Trauma patients over age 65 should be cared for by a multidisciplinary trauma team. Here is another study affirming that patients over age 65 do worse when having similar injuries to those under 65. Interestingly, those under 65 had more operative repairs of their orthopedic injuries as well.  

The authors conclude: “Although the ISS and NISS were similar, mortality was significantly higher among patients aged ≥ 65 years compared to patients < 65 years of age”.

 Also it bears further investigation of why those under 65 received more operative repairs

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