Bertasi, Tais G.O.

Abstract Mitigating impact injuries is crucial in race car driving, requiring adherence to stringent safety standards. Helmets and head-neck support devices are essential for reducing the risk of concussions and serious injuries. The sport's high-risk nature demands a deep understanding of injury types, with attention to common areas such as the spine, shoulders, and knees. Continuous safety innovation focused on factors like posture, race duration, and physiologic response is imperative. Safety advancements have significantly reduced fatalities, with comprehensive protocols and specialized equipment ensuring rapid crash response. Medical and safety measures, including roll bars, harness systems, and heat-resistant clothing, protect drivers, while tailored regulations for different race car categories ensure specific safety needs are met. Overall, the intricate focus on safety balances the thrill of racing with driver well-being.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is an adverse event that can lead to increased pain, increased cost, risk of death, and decreased patient satisfaction. Studies have investigated the best solutions to prevent SSI. Chlorhexidine has been suggested as the most efficacious antiseptic. However, scant data exist on application of antiseptic solutions and effectiveness of concentric versus back-and-forth strokes. Because a specific method may result in better outcomes, we aimed to review the literature to compare these two techniques. Methods: PubMed-indexed articles were reviewed using specific keywords, including “back-and-forth,” “concentric circle,” “chlorhexidine,” “iodine,” “surgical site infection,” “antiseptic,” and “skin preparation.” Because data showing the correlation between SSI and application method of skin preparation solutions were scant, studies that described skin preparation method but analyzed other types of infection, bacteremia, or colonization were also included in this review. Results: No consensus was found regarding the application method. Two articles showed the superiority of chlorhexidine applied using the back-and-forth technique, whereas one demonstrated the superiority of iodine applied in concentric circles. Conclusions: The method of applying antiseptic solution may be just as important as the choice of solution. More studies are needed to assess method of antiseptic application.

Stress fractures are injuries frequently seen in high-performance athletes, especially runners. In the femur, the most commonly affected locations are the femoral neck, condylar area and proximal shaft. Intertrochanteric fractures are much more common in the elderly population, especially among those with osteoporosis, but they can also be a result of high-energy repetitive mechanisms. We present a case of an intertrochanteric stress fracture in a young male runner. The diagnosis was suspected after persistent pain following his first marathon, and it was confirmed with an MRI. Operative fixation of the fracture was performed 22 days after the pain started, which allowed the patient to return to his activities, including 50 km marathon 4 months following the surgery.

AbstractAbsence seizures (AS), presenting as short losses of consciousness with staring spells, are a common manifestation of childhood epilepsy that is associated with behavioral, emotional, and social impairments. It has also been suggested that patients with AS are more likely to suffer from mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. This systematic review and meta‐analysis synthesizes human and animal models that investigated mood disorders and AS. Of the 1019 scientific publications identified, 35 articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. We found that patients with AS had greater odds of developing depression and anxiety when compared to controls (odds ratio = 4.93, 95% confidence interval = 2.91–8.35, p < .01). The included studies further suggest a strong correlation between AS and depression and anxiety in the form of a bidirectional relationship. The current literature emphasizes that these conditions likely share underlying mechanisms, such as genetic predisposition, neurophysiology, and anatomical pathways. Further research will clarify this relationship and ensure more effective treatment for AS and mood disorders.

Background: During awake craniotomy, securing the patient’s airway might be necessary electively or emergently. The objective of this study was to compare the feasibility of airway management using a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) and 4 alternative airway management techniques in an awake craniotomy simulation. Methods: After completing a questionnaire, 9 anesthesia providers attempted airway management in a cadaver positioned to simulate awake craniotomy conditions. Following the simulation, participants rated and ranked the devices in their order of preference. Results: Only 3 approaches resulted in the successful securement of an airway device for 100% of participants: LMA (median; interquartile range time to secure the airway 6 s, 5 to 10 s), fiberoptic bronchoscopy through an LMA (41 s; 23 to 51 s), and video laryngoscopy (49 s; 43 to 127 s). In contrast, the oral and nasal fiberoptic approaches demonstrated only 44.4% (154.5 s; 134.25 to 182 s) and 55.6% (75 s; 50 to 117 s) success rates, respectively. The LMA was the fastest and most reliable primary method to secure the airway (P=0.001). After the simulation, 100% of participants reported that an LMA would be their first choice for emergency airway management, followed by fiberoptic intubation through the LMA (7 of 9 participants) if the LMA failed to properly seat. Conclusions: We demonstrated that an LMA was the fastest and most reliable primary method to secure an airway in a laterally positioned cadaver with 3-pin skull fixation. Fiberoptic and video laryngoscope airway equipment should be readily available during awake craniotomy procedures, and an attempt to visualize the vocal cords through the LMA should be attempted before removing it for alternative techniques.