why this blog?

Likelihood Ratio (LR) in Emergency Medicine

6/28/2014

Is a cold steak enough in black eye?

Clinical Scenario

A young guy comes to the ED after a car crash. While he was driving, the car in front of him stopped abruptly so they crashed. Fortunately speed was low and he does not report major trauma, but a black eye due to an impact towards the airbag. You promptly evaluate his sight and find no deficit, no diplopia, palpation does not show fracture steps or enphysema, skin sensation is preserved.



It’s nothing, just put a cold steak on it!

Would you really say this?


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6/16/2014

Is my hand broken?

Clinical Scenario

A 24 y/o guy presents in ED with the left hand upraised. 
“I fell off my bike yesterday – he says – I remember a serious impact with an outstreched palm.”
There aren’t wounds, he feels pain on the radial side of  left wrist, there is an anatomical snuffbox tenderness. The clamp sign is positive, but the resisted pronation maneuvre and the longitudinal compression test are negative.  

Is it broken? Asks worried the guy.


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