Consequences of physical distancing emanating from the COVID-19 pandemic: An Australian perspective

The sobering reality of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it has brought people together at home at a time when we want them apart in the community. This will bring both benefits and challenges. It will affect people differently based upon their age, health status, resilience, family support structures, and socio-economic background. This article will assess the impact in high income countries like Australia, where the initial wave of infection placed the elderly at the greatest risk of death whilst the protective measures of physical distancing, self-isolation, increased awareness of hygiene practices, and school closures with distance learning has had considerable impact on children and families acutely and may have ramifications for years to come.     

Manejo de la rotura de la membrana de Descemet secundaria a traumatismo por fórceps durante el parto

To describe the clinical signs and management of Descemet membrane (DM) detachment after forceps-related trauma during birth. A 2-day-old term infant presented with right eye corneal clouding and history of forceps assisted delivery. Ophthalmic assessment was consistent for corneal trauma and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT Visante®) revealed DM detachment. Prolonged topical treatment considerably reduced edema, but after four months of treatment superior DM detachment persisted, anterior chamber air injection at this point also failed to achieve apposition. Central visual axis remained partially spared in the months to follow, and intensive amblyopia treatment was indicated. Prolonged topical treatment may be helpful to reduce edema and risk of severe amblyopia in DM tears secondary to forceps traumatism at birth, but insufficient in cases of large DM detachment.     

翼状胬肉切除联合角膜缘干细胞滑行移植治疗早期翼状胬肉

目的：探讨翼状胬肉治疗方法及时机。方法对81例早期翼状胬肉患者，先切除胬肉，再在角膜上、下缘做带有角膜缘干细胞的结膜瓣，滑行移植。结果术后局部反应轻，随访6～24个月，无1例复发。结论翼状胬肉切除联合角膜缘干细胞滑行移植是一种治疗早期翼状胬肉的安全简便有效的手术方式，美容效果可靠。     

The marks of gunshot wounds to the face

IntroductionThis article deals with the occurrence of health problems due to gunshot wounds to the face among military police officers, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, who were submitted to surgery at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology Clinic of Hospital Central da Polícia Militar.ObjectiveTo identify the profile of patients submitted to surgery as a result of gunshot wounds, the anatomical distribution of maxillofacial fractures, the identified sequelae and complications, the health specialties involved in the rehabilitation of these patients, and to discuss the social, emotional and work performance-related effects of work among these subjects.MethodsA retrospective epidemiological study was carried out based on secondary data from military police officers who were submitted to surgery at Hospital Central da Polícia Militar due to gunshot wounds from June 2003 to December 2017.ResultsDuring the study period, 778 surgeries were performed in the operating room by the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology service at Hospital Central da Polícia Militar, 186 of which were due to gunshot wounds (23.9%). All patients were males and the mean age 34.7 years. Bone segment loss was the most common sequela. Facial esthetic impairment and reports of insomnia were the most often identified late consequences of impact on health and social life. Regarding the occupational impacts of the sustained injury, the mean time away from work due to medical leave for the treatment of maxillofacial injuries was 11.7 months.ConclusionThe treatment of gunshot wounds patients with facial injuries requires multiple surgical interventions and their rehabilitation requires the involvement of different health specialties. Further studies are needed to qualitatively analyze the impact of this type of facial trauma on the patients' lives and their social consequences.     

Worsening head bleeds in elderly blunt head trauma patients taking antithrombotics: Delayed CT head fails to change management

Background

Most elderly trauma patients suffer blunt head injury and many utilize antithrombotic (AT) medications. The utility of delayed CT-head (D-CTH) in neurologically intact elderly patients using AT who have an intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) on presentation is unknown. We hypothesized that D-CTH would not alter clinical management and aimed to evaluate the role of D-CTH in this population.