Hand Injuries David Q. Bell and Douglas Doehrman Hand injuries account for 5% to 20% of emergency department (ED) visits (1). The outcome depends on accurate assessment of the injury,…

Shoulder Injuries Scott C. Sherman The shoulder joint is composed of three bones (humerus, clavicle, and scapula) and three joints (sternoclavicular [SC], acromioclavicular [AC], and glenohumeral). Figure 38.1 demonstrates the…

Chronic Pain Syndromes Michael A. Turturro and Paul M. Paris Pain is typically defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional phenomenon associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Chronic pain…

Sore Throat Michael F. Murphy Sore throat is a common presenting complaint in emergency medicine, particularly the acute variety. Although most causes of sore throat are not life threatening, some…

Trauma in Pregnancy Bonnie Lau and Susan B. Promes Significant trauma affects approximately 7% of pregnant women (1). In fact, trauma was reported to be the leading cause of death…

Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures Amy Kaji and Robert S. Hockberger Thoracolumbar spine (TLS) injuries are relatively uncommon in the United States; however, of all blunt trauma patients presenting to the emergency…

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease David S. Howes and Leah W. Skjei Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) comprises a spectrum of chronic respiratory illnesses characterized by cough, sputum production, dyspnea, airflow…

Genitourinary Trauma Carrie D. Tibbles The genitourinary (GU) system is involved in approximately 10% of acutely injured patients (1). The presentation of GU trauma may be occult and is often…

Wrist and Forearm Injuries James R. Gardner and Carl R. Chudnofsky Wrist injuries are among the most common emergency department (ED) complaints, are often difficult to accurately diagnose, and may…

Knee Injuries Christine B. Irish and Christopher T. Bowe Knee trauma accounts for more than one million emergency department (ED) visits each year (1). The knee joint is made up…