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Hip Dislocation – Flowchart

Dislocation of a Native Hip

  • Uncommon – High-Energy injury
  • All patients presenting with a suspected native hip dislocation following trauma (including falls from standing) must have a primary survey done to assess for other injuries.
  • Early Senior input (if not trauma team) and Resus
  • Neurovascular status of the affected limb must be assessed and documented. 

Dislocation of Prosthetic Hip

  • Relatively common and frequently low energy
  • All patients should be assessed with low threshold to treat as trauma
    • Remember the biggest cause of ISS >15 Major Trauma in UK is older patients falling from standing height
  • Neurovascular status of the affected limb must be assessed and documented. 
  • If there is neurovascular compromise then move to Resus and inform ED senior 
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Clinical Expectations

ED Tiers.

Tier [Examples]Expectation
1.
[FY1]
– Require direct supervision
– At a minimum patient being admitted should be discussed with a more senior clinician (ideally Tier 3+), and reviewed in person by a senior clinician if being discharged (Tier 3+)
2.
[FY2-ST2]
– Require reduced supervision compared to tier 1
– Require access to on-site supervision but able to see some patients independently within a limited and agreed scope of practice
– RCEM senior sign-off guidance appliesProgression of increasing responsibility and experience as per RCEM curriculum
3. [ST3/SAS/ACP]-Senior doctors able to lead a department with remote supervision from a tier 5 doctor.Possess some extended skills that can be practiced independently. Full scope ofpractice
– Progression of increasing responsibility and experience as per RCEM curriculum
4.
[ST4+, SAS]
– Senior doctors able to lead a department with remote supervision from a tier 5 doctor.
– Possess some extended skills that can be practiced independently.
– Full scope of practice
– Progression of increasing responsibility and experience as per RCEM curriculum
5.
[Consultant]
– Senior doctors with a full set of extended skills and who have demonstrated their ability to take independent clinical responsibility for an ED
– Reference point: RCEM curriculum

Senior Reviews.

The following require Consultant/Tier 4/PEM T3+ – Sign off

  • NEWS2 > 5
  • Atraumatic chest pain in patients aged 30 years and over
  • Fever in children under 1 year of age
  • Patients making an unscheduled return to the ED with the same condition within 72 hours of discharge
  • Abdominal pain in patients aged 70 years and over

The review should be recorded in the patient’s clinical notes and should ideally include the patient being seen and reviewed in person by the EM Senior.

Responsibility in ED – Trust Agreed

The following principles have been agree by ALL: CD’s, DD’s and Medical Director, (as per GIRFT guidance)

Consultant Expectations

The following are the agreed expectation of consultant roles in ED

Swallowed Foriegn Body

The ingestion of a foreign body or multiple foreign bodies (FB) is a common presenting complaint in paediatric surgery, with a peak incidence from 12-24 months however, can occur at any age. Ingested foreign bodies rarely cause problems; almost 80% of patients pass the foreign body without intervention – in seven days2 (only 1% require surgical removal). However, occasionally foreign bodies can cause significant morbidity (for example, oesophageal rupture) and 1% require surgical removal.

The presenting symptoms and outcomes of an ingested foreign body is highly dependent on the swallowed object, and for this reason, the guidance for hazardous and non-hazardous foreign body ingestion has been divided accordingly.

Using the Metal Detector

Non-Hazardous Objects

Button Battery

Ingestion of Button Battery = POTENTIAL EMERGENCY

See separate post for more resources and education if desired.

Magnets

 

Sharp Objects

Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE)

Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE) is now the recommended term for ALTE (Apparent Life Threatening Event).

Definition:

BRUE is defined as an episode in an infant less than 12 months old characterized by: 

  • < 1 minute duration (typically 20-30s)
  • Followed by return to baseline state
  • Not explained by identifiable medical conditions

Includes one or more of the following:  

  • Central cyanosis/pallor
  • Absent, decreased or irregular breathing
  • Marked change in tone (hyper or hypotonia)
  • Altered level of consciousness

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