The authors of this issue point out that 3-11% of malpractice dollars paid are disbursed for wound-related cases. Although wound infections may occur despite proper wound care, the detection of tendon or nerve injuries as well as joint violations requires a higher index of suspicion. This months review of wound management and its pitfalls serves the reader well by keeping the practitioner attentive to the potential problems of wound care.
As if communication with young children was not challenging enough, the child presenting with an altered mental status (AMS) is an exceptional opportunity for testing one's sleuthing ability. The reality is that we see far more adults with AMS than we do children. Consequently, we might be tempted for just a moment to doubt our abilities.
By Ronald M. Perkin, MD, MA
Professor and Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University; Chairman, Committee on Physician Health, Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Greenville, NC; and Jay Weaver, JD, EMT-P, Attorney, Private Practice; Adjunct Faculty, Northeastern University, Boston.
