MS Flashcards
How should you treat an infected puncture wound to the foot?
- Cleanse the wound
- Update tetanus
- Consider x-ray for retained foreign bodies or possible bony involvement
If infection develops after puncture through sole of a shoe (esp. sneakers), treat for Pseudomonas in addition to Staph and Strep
What eye finding do atropine, amphetamines, antihistamines, and cocaine cause?
Mydriasis (dilated pupils)
Assuming prompt treatment, which has a better prognosis - epidural or subdural hematoma?
Epidural
The underlying brain tissue is uninjured in epidural hematomas, whereas in subdural hematomas, there is usually a severe brain injury.
What is the most common organism found in an infect cat bite wound?
Pasteurella multocida, followed by Staph aureus. Pasteurella infection can progress rapidly and should be treated with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid
A 9-year-old boy includes genitals in a drawing of his family. What should you consider as a possibility?
Sexual abuse
Ingestion of which substance produces these signs and symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Urination
- Miosis
- Bronchorrhea/Bronchospasm
- Emesis
- Lacrimation
- Salivation
These are symptoms of cholinergic toxicity. Common causes are organophosphates and carbamate. Also causes CNS and nicotinic muscarinic effects, which are not included in the DUMBELS mnemonic.
Antidotes:
- Atropine for both organophosphates and carbamate
- Pralidoxime for organophosphates
What is the most common physical exam finding of the genital/anal area in sexually abused children?
Normal exam
A 5-year-old has a supracondylar elbow fracture that is displaced significantly. Should orthopedics be consulted?
Yes
Displaced supracondylar elbow fractures have a high risk of neurovascular complications such as compartment syndrome of the forearm, which can lead to Volkmann contractures in the wrist and hand. Must evaluate for damage from the brachial artery, median and radial nerves
A 3-year-old child is seen after eating Grandma’s blood pressure pills. She is somnolent, bradycardic, and hypotensive. Her blood sugar is 55 mg/dL. What do you suspect?
Beta-blocker ingestion
- CNS depression
- bradycardia
- hypotension
- arrhythmias
- hypoglycemia
A 6-month-old infant presents with a large, unexplained swelling over the parietal region. What should you do?
CT scan
Infants < 2 years with nonfrontal scalp injuries are at increased risk of intracranial injuries. Suspect abuse in this case.
What test should be performed in well-appearing <2-year-old siblings of physically abused children?
Skeletal survey
A significant number of siblings of abused children have fractures that are not suspected clinically. Twins are especially at risk.
Name 6 sexually transmitted infections that can be congenitally acquired
- HPV
- HSV
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
A 6-year-old is seen after an ankle injury. He is tender over the distal fibula. X-ray does not show a fracture. What injury is most likely?
Salter-Harris fracture, type 1
If a young child (with open growth plates) is tender over the distal fibular physis, consider this fracture even if the x-ray is normal.
Why should infants with abusive head trauma be evaluated by an ophthalmologist?
To evaluate for retinal hemorrhages
62-100% of infants with severe abusive head trauma have bilateral retinal hemorrhages. Infants can be born with bilateral retinal hemorrhages, but these tend to disappear by 2-6 weeks of life.
List 3 possible signs or symptoms of abusive head injury
- Vomiting
- Fussiness
- “Not acting right”
- Lethargy
- Seizures
- Scalp hematomas
- Coma
- Apnea
- Cardiac arrest
+/- Spinal trauma
An 11-year-old male presents due to ankle injury at a basketball game. He has point tenderness over the distal lateral malleolus and a moderately swollen ankle. He has limited ROM in all directions. He cannot bear weight due to severe pain.
What are indications for x-ray according to the Ottawa ankle rules?
X-ray the ankle if:
- Unable to bear weight for 4 steps immediately after the injury
- Tender over distal 6cm of either malleolus
X-ray the foot if:
- Unable to bear weight for 4 steps
- Bony tenderness at base of 5th metatarsal or navicular bone
You are seeing an 18-month-old male with multiple bruises concerning for abuse. What radiologic study should you perform?
Skeletal survey in patients < 2 years
A 16-year-old presents with displaced tibial fracture with pain that appears to be out of proportion to the fracture and pain remote to the fracture. What is the suspected complication?
Compartment syndrome
- Most common with tibial and supracondylar fractures
- Fracture causes hemorrhage or swelling in an enclosed fascial compartment
- Pulses may still be palpable
Biggest keys are pain out of proportion to fracture, remote to fracture
It is wintertime, and a family presents with the following symptoms:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Lethargy/malaise
- Flu-like symptoms
- Normal pulse oximetry
What is the likely diagnosis?
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Be suspicious if presents with these symptoms during wintertime or during prolonged power outage with use of a gas generator. Diagnosed by co-oximetry
A 6-month-old presents with a spiral fracture of the femur. What should you suspect as the etiology of the injury?
Abuse
A pregnant teen presents in active labor. She has an active genital herpes infection. What type of delivery should she have?
C-section to avoid transmission of HSV to the newborn
- Risk of transmitting HSV from a mother with primary genital infection to her baby at or near delivery is 40-45% (very high)
- If the mother does not have prodromal or clinical s/s of herpes at delivery, she can delivery vaginally
A 1-year-old presents with the following:
- White sclerae
- Fractures at birth
- Tibial bowing
- Delayed fontanelle closure
Most likely diagnosis
Osteogenesis imperfecta type 4
- milder form like type 1 (which has blue sclerae)
** Tibial bowing is a hallmark of Type 4
By how much does pRBC 10cc/kg raise hemoglobin?
2.5-3 g/dL
Newborn presents with jitteriness, irritability, tremulousness, muscle rigidity, and intracranial hemorrhages.
What illicit drug used by the mother during pregnancy is most likely responsible for these findings?
Cocaine
- There is an increased risk of placental abruption and intracranial hemorrhage with cocaine use near delivery