Tactical Medicine News Blog

There is constant debate on whether to image the cervical spine of blunt trauma patients. Fortunately, there are two clinical decision tools available to help you with your evidence-based practice. The NEXUS and Canadian C-spine Rules (CCR) are both validated studies which both quote a high sensitivity (over 99%) in detecting clinically significant cervical spine fractures. Both studies primarily used plain films in evaluating their patients. Sensitivity (%) Specificity (%) NEXUS 99.6 12.6 CCR 99.4 45.1

  After a shift, we often review the day’s case with our learners. We sometimes ask them to self-reflect. I often used Demian’s ‘Plus/Delta’ approach and ask ‘What did you like /what would you change?’ This approach works well mostly. But, when the answer is ‘I don’t think I would change anything’, it is hard to target teaching and feedback to the learner’s need.

What types of methodologies are used to develop a consensus statement? I’m in the midst of helping to write a consensus statement manuscript in education and ran into this great review article. It’s from the British Medical Journal in 1995.  Basically, there are 2 general types of methodologies: Delphi Process Nominal Group Technique 

Dyphagia is a disorder of swallowing. It actually occurs in up to 10% of adults older than 50 years old. How can you determine the most likely causes for dysphagia? The secret is to obtain a thorough history and using the algorithm below, which I find really helpful from a review article in American Family Physician.

It’s finally here! The second edition to the Medical Student Educator’s Handbook is finished. Here’s the info from the CDEM website: