Dual-Energy CT to Diagnose Occult Femoral Neck Fracture in MRI-Contraindicated Patient: A Case Report.

CASE: A 79-year-old woman presented after a ground level fall with the inability to bear weight on her right hip. Radiographs and computed tomography (CT) imaging were negative for a femoral neck fracture. Her medical comorbidities precluded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), so dual-energy CT with focused evaluation for bone edema was performed, identifying a femoral neck fracture that was stabilized surgically. CONCLUSION: Dual-energy CT with processing for edema can successfully identify nondisplaced femoral neck fractures in MRI-contraindicated patients. This imaging modality could be useful for diagnosing femoral neck stress fractures and ipsilateral femoral neck fractures in patients sustaining high-energy femoral shaft fractures.

Attitudes of Residents and Program Directors Towards Research in Otolaryngology Residency.

OBJECTIVE:: To determine attitudes of residents and program directors towards research during residency training. STUDY DESIGN:: Survey of current otolaryngology residents and program directors. SETTING:: Otolaryngology residency programs. METHODS:: An anonymous web-based survey ( www.surveymonkey.com ) was sent to 106 program directors (PDs) and 115 program coordinators. The program coordinators subsequently sent it to residents. Fisher exact tests and correlations were used to determine statistically significant differences. RESULTS:: Overall, 178 residents and 31 PDs responded to our surveys. All residents surveyed reported some research experience prior to residency. Residents who reported a previous first-author manuscript publication prior to residency were more likely than residents who had no previous first-author publication to report a first-author publication during residency (58.44% vs 27.27%, P < .0001); 33% of the residents reported academics as a desired future career setting after residency. The most significant barrier to research perceived by the residents was time constraint due to residency duties and personal commitments (93% and 74%, respectively). The second and third most common barriers to research were lack of statistical knowledge at 52% and lack of interest in research at 43.6%. CONCLUSIONS:: Research is a required component of otolaryngology residency training. The most significant barrier in our survey was the lack of protected research time, followed by lack of biostatistical knowledge and interest. Program directors may need to implement structured research rotations tailored to individual residents' research interests and integrate training in research methodology and biostatistics.