The majority of sexually assaulted individuals do not share the experience with anyone, suffering in silence. An estimated one-third of all sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement. In many cases, after contact with law enforcement, patients are taken to…
Pelvic Examination In an emergency department (ED) there are several reasons to perform a pelvic examination: lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, suspected sexually transmitted disease (STD), retained foreign body, and possible Bartholin abscess (BA) of the vulva. Emergency…
Background Of the more than 3.9 million births in the United States in 2013, 98.6% were delivered in a hospital setting. Although a physician was present for 91.7% of these births, the percentage of these births that occur in the…
Introduction This chapter addresses urologic conditions that are either initially or eventually associated with an emergency procedure or may need to be performed in the absence of a urologic surgeon. Testicular torsion is a scrotal emergency that can be challenging…
Open fractures, dislocations, and exposed joints are true orthopedic emergencies that must be managed aggressively to prevent morbidity and mortality. Even when managed appropriately, these injuries may be further complicated by a compartment syndrome, a condition of increased pressure within…
Background Arthrocentesis, the puncture and aspiration of a joint, is an acknowledged, useful procedure that is easily performed in the emergency department (ED). It has been established as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for various clinical situations. When performed…
Bursitis and tendinitis are terms frequently used to describe a variety of common and often ill-defined regional musculoskeletal conditions characterized chiefly by pain and disability at the involved site. They are either periarticular or contained within specific soft tissue structures.…
Normal daily activities cannot easily be accomplished without walking, so patients with painful or infectious conditions of the feet often seek medical attention. This chapter focuses on procedures performed for common maladies of the foot. Other procedures on the foot…
Splints are used frequently in the emergency department (ED) for temporary immobilization of fractures and dislocations and for definitive treatment of soft tissue injuries. Patients with a variety of nontraumatic musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., gout, inflammatory joint diseases, infections, burns) also…
Joint dislocations are frequently encountered in patients seen in the emergency department (ED). They can range from a simple finger joint dislocation to limb- or life-threatening consequences of high-energy trauma. Keys to clinical assessment and radiographic evaluation of these injuries…