RESUMEN
Emergency department (ED) visits for children with autism can present challenges due to the unique sensory needs of this population. This Quality Improvement (QI) project executed two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to create and implement a Sensory Toolkit in the ED for children with autism. Most caregivers (94%; nâ =â 31/33) and healthcare providers (HCPs; 86%; nâ =â 37/44) identified the need for sensory items in the ED. In PDSA Cycle 1, 100% of caregivers (nâ =â 21) and HCPs (nâ =â 3) agreed/strongly agreed that the ED Sensory Toolkit was helpful. In PDSA Cycle 2, 92% of caregivers (nâ =â 12/13) and 100% of HCPs (nâ =â 3) agreed/strongly agreed that they were helpful. The Sensory Toolkit was positively evaluated by caregivers of children with autism and HCPs during the child's visit to the ED. There is an opportunity to adapt the Sensory Toolkit for other EDs and areas of the hospital.
RESUMEN
Pediatric hand fractures are common and approximately 10% require surgery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study reports on hand fractures in a large pediatric population and identifies the characteristics and patterns of fractures that required surgical correction. A χ2 analysis was done to evaluate the association between individual fracture variables and surgery. The STROBE checklist was applied. RESULTS: One thousand one-hundred seventy-three hand fractures were reviewed. Peak age was 16 years for boys and 14 years for girls. Most fractures were closed (96.0%) and nonrotated (91.3%), and had no concomitant soft tissue injury (72.7%). More than half (56.3%) were nonepiphyseal plate fractures; yet as a single diagnosis, Salter-Harris II fractures were most common (30.2%). The following variables were significantly associated with surgery: open fractures, rotational deformity, distal phalangeal fracture location, multiple fractures, oblique pattern, comminution, displacement >2 mm, intra-articular involvement, and angulation >15°. Most fractures required only immobilization and early range of motion (64.3%). Closed reduction was required in 22.7%. Minor surgery by the primary provider was performed in 3.2% of fractures. Surgery by a hand surgeon was performed in 9.8%. The most common patterns requiring surgery were proximal or middle phalanx head or neck fractures (38.2%) and metacarpal midshaft fractures (20.9%). The most common operation was open reduction internal fixation (52.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric hand fractures are common, but 90.2% do not require surgery and, as such, primary providers play a key role in management. Certain fracture variables and patterns are more likely to lead to surgery.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Some surgeries are now performed almost exclusively via a laparoscopic approach to enhance recovery and reduce postoperative complications. This survey explored institutional and individual physician practice patterns of the surgical management of malrotation. METHODS: All 2015 Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons annual meeting attendees were invited to complete an anonymous prepiloted survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated. RESULTS: The response rate was 35% (150 distributed, 52 returned). Most institutions (39.5%) saw on average 5-10 cases of malrotation per year. Most respondents (54.2%) indicated that the laparoscopic (LL) and open Ladd's (OL) procedures were equal surgical approaches for stable patients. Respondents were nearly equally divided (47.9% yes; 44.7% no) with respect to whether an LL procedure led to a higher risk of postoperative volvulus. Of those who answered yes, most indicated that an increased risk of postoperative volvulus was because of an inadequate widening of mesentery (45.8%), reduced "beneficial" postoperative adhesions (29.2%), or both (16.7%). 100% of respondents who perform an OL as their standard procedure indicated that there was a higher risk of postoperative volvulus with LL procedure. Only 1/8 who performed a LL as a standard approach routinely performed an appendectomy. CONCLUSION: There remain polarized views on the best surgical approach to malrotation yet a persistent belief in the reduction in postoperative adhesions in leading to a postoperative volvulus with LL procedures. Collaboration to permit long-term follow-up of a large cohort may help develop guidelines for the operative management of malrotation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.