Clinical Feature Articles

Urgent message: Though data are limited and approaches to burn blister management remain controversial (eg, leaving blisters intact vs deroofing or aspirating), appropriate initial care in the urgent care setting is both feasible and advisable and can reduce risk for infection and scarring. Muhammad Zeeshan Ahmed MBBS, FRNZCUC, Winston McEwan FRACS, and Sana Maqsood MPhil, Cert PH Citation: Ahmed MZ, McEwan W, Maqsood S. Management of burn blisters in urgent care. J Urgent Care Med. 2022;16(10):13-18. INTRODUCTION Though positive outcomes can be achieved with appropriate wound care and dressing, assessing …
Read More

Urgent message: Use of a finger tourniquet can ensure a bloodless field when performing laceration repair to fingers and toes, thereby reducing risk for damage to underlying vital structures and increasing the prospects for positive outcomes. Patrick O’Malley, MD After repairing scores of finger lacerations over the years, I have learned there are a few essential supplies required for these cases; the most critical among them, however, is the finger tourniquet. This simple device makes a world of difference when closing finger (and toe) lacerations. We’ve all experienced how the …
Read More

Urgent message: Appreciation for the cause of knee pain, along with an understanding of potential nonoperative rehabilitation therapies that could be provided in urgent care, can enhance patient care and improve patient satisfaction while minimizing the need for referral. Dr. Eva Delgado Martinez MBChB, GP, MScCN and Dr. Ivan Koay MBChB, FRNZCUC, MD INTRODUCTION Knee injuries in adults and children are common presentations to urgent care and emergency rooms.1 Rehabilitation of those injuries is essential in aiding patients to return to normal function and activities. Many common causes of knee …
Read More

Urgent message: Immobilization following acute knee injury occurs more commonly than the evidence might dictate in urgent care and other acute care settings. Evaluation of data in existing literature suggest that this common practice carries risk for adverse effects when not warranted. Matthew Bruce Baird, MD, CAQ-SM; Mallory Shasteen, MD, CAQ-SM; and Vicki Nelson, MD, CAQ-SM. Citation: Baird MB, Shasteen M, Nelson V. Knee immobilization for acute knee injuries: a review. J Urgent Care Med. 2022;16(8):13-19 ABSTRACT Context Immobilization of the knee is commonly used following acute knee injuries despite …
Read More

Urgent message: Musculoskeletal pain is a common urgent care complaint, with x-rays very commonly ordered. However, a “normal” image does not necessarily support eliminating what could be a serious injury from the differential diagnosis. Arun Sayal, MD, CCFP(EM) Citation: Sayal A. When X-Rays Lie: Important Orthopedic Diagnoses to Consider with Normal Imaging. J Urgent Care Med. 2022;16(7):13-16. Medical tests lie. Not intentionally, of course, but their result may not align with reality. A test may be positive in the absence of pathology (a false positive); conversely, a test may be …
Read More