On the next chart you pick up, the triage nurse has written, "Back pain, needs med refill." What is your honest reaction? Mine, too. But after evaluating the patient, sometimes I am embarrassed that my initial reaction was negative.
Knee and ankle injuries are very common in pediatrics. Sports and recreational activities are frequent sources of injury, hence are sources of typical emergency department (ED) visits. Although sprains and contusions frequently occur, it is critical that the unique aspects of the pediatric skeleton and its associated vulnerability are considered. Imaging and treatment are focused on identification of fractures and associated injuries; correct immobilization and appropriate follow-up, based on the injury, are necessary to maximize the outcome for each injury.
Imagine a new disease strikes your community that significantly increases mortality rates, particularly in critically ill patients. This same disease causes patients to suffer more pain, greater heart damage from a myocardial infarction, and, if they are elderly, increases the chance they will be discharged to a nursing home. Such a disease clearly would grab the public's attention, and even in these difficult times, money would be diverted to find a cure. This problem exists today in many of our communities: crowding.
