Walking Quadriplegic: Cervical Myelopathy in an Ambulating Combat Support Soldier.

We discuss a case of a 27-year-old male Soldier who presented with acute to subacute vague radicular complaints, which were atypical for and out of proportion to the imaging findings. Imaging demonstrated compressive cervical myelopathy at the levels of C3/C4 and C4/C5. Paradoxically, the patient's history revealed a remote nerve root compression, not cord compression, at the same levels. Identification and prompt surgical management led to the reversal of significant neurologic deficits that were present preoperatively. This case highlights the difficulty of identifying this rare condition among a plethora of otherwise benign and common cervical spondyloses seen in the Special Operations population. This study aims to bring to light the subtle history and physical characteristics that can assist Special Operations healthcare providers in making an otherwise elusive diagnosis. Last, it highlights a utility to documenting baseline spinal exam findings for the force to better identify subtle injuries.

Project Reach: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study of the Telemedical Capabilities of Special Operations Medical Personnel.

BACKGROUND: While the US military has relied on the "Golden Hour" for casualty evacuation in Iraq and Afghanistan during most of the last two decades, Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel have found themselves operating further outside of this established medical infrastructure. This has required prolonged casualty care beyond doctrinal timelines. Telemedicine is increasingly used by medical personnel to bridge this gap, augmenting the local staff with the expertise of a distant consultant. This pilot study was launched to establish a baseline of current SOF telemedical capabilities. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of a 292 Department of Defense (DoD) SOF medical personnel via an online questionnaire during the period of October 2018-May 2019. RESULTS: Approximately 16.1% of the 292 respondents stated they received telemedicine equipment, 51.1% of respondents who received telemedicine equipment reported also receiving training on their equipment. Overall, 40.6% of respondents were "actively looking to add telemedicine to their practice," with prolonged field care as the primary intended use. Ideal characteristics of telemedicine equipment were described as a device weighing 6 lb or less, with real-time video and ultrasound transmission capabilities. DISCUSSION: The data demonstrated a gap between provider demand for telemedicine capabilities and their comfort to employ these capabilities downrange. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a need to increase the self-reported telemedicine competency of deployed local providers. Authors believe that this is best accomplished through incorporation of early integration of teleconsulting systems into mission rehearsals and unit exercises. Further study should be considered to investigate the efficacy of ongoing acquisition and training programs, along with how telemedicine is being incorporated in the unit during the predeployment training period.

Mysterious Cause of Respiratory Failure and Multilobar Atelectasis in a 17-Month-Old Male.

A 17-month-old male presented to a community hospital emergency department in respiratory distress suggestive of reactive airway exacerbation or pneumonia. He rapidly deteriorated into fulminant respiratory failure with multilobar atelectasis. He was managed with continuous albuterol, intravenous antibiotics, corticosteroids, intubation, and vasopressors. He was then transported to a tertiary Children's Hospital. The patient was extubated 20 hours after presentation and again developed respiratory failure while in the pediatric intensive care unit. During preparation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, he quickly stabilized following reintubation and bronchodilator therapy. He was extubated approximately 24 hours later, and subsequently discharged after a 9-day hospitalization. Outpatient investigation after discharge revealed dysphagia, milk allergy, and eosinophilic esophagitis. In this case, it is highly probable that aspiration secondary to dysphagia and eosinophilic esophagitis led to respiratory failure. This case demonstrates the possible rapid decompensation from aspiration due to insidious inflammation of the esophagus and dysphagia in an otherwise anatomically normal toddler.

Trauma Resuscitation Evaluation Times and Correlating Human Patient Simulation Training Differences-What is the Standard?

BACKGROUND: Rapid effective trauma resuscitations (TRs) decrease patient morbidity and mortality. Few studies have evaluated TR care times. Effective time goals and superior human patient simulator (HPS) training can improve patient survivability. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare live TR to HPS resuscitation times to determine mean incremental resuscitation times and ascertain if simulation was educationally equivalent. The study was conducted at San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Defense Level I trauma center. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study measuring incremental step times by trauma teams during trauma and simulation patient resuscitations. Trauma and simulation patient arms had 60 patients for statistical significance. Participants included Emergency Medicine residents and Physician Assistant residents as the trauma team leader. RESULTS: The trauma patient arm revealed a mean evaluation time of 10:33 and simulation arm 10:23. Comparable time characteristics in the airway, intravenous access, blood sample collection, and blood pressure data subsets were seen. CONCLUSIONS: TR mean times were similar to the HPS arm subsets demonstrating simulation as an effective educational tool. Effective stepwise approaches, incremental time goals, and superior HPS training can improve patient survivability and improved departmental productivity using TR teams.

Airborne Priapism: A Case of Nonischemic Priapism After Military Static-Line Parachute Injury.

We report the case of a 21-year-old active duty U.S. Army soldier with painful and nonresolving priapism following blunt pelvic and lower extremity trauma from military static-line parachute injury during training. The patient's condition was initially managed with corporal aspiration and intracavernosal injections of phenylephrine that provided temporary relief but recurrence soon after. Referral to Urology at the site of the patient's injury yielded a diagnosis of penile hematoma. On subsequent evaluation by Urology on return to the patient's home duty station (over 96 hours after injury, with symptoms persisting), the corpora cavernosa were rigid, the corpus spongiosum was soft, and corporal blood gas drawn by the emergency department consistent with arterial blood. Penile duplex ultrasound revealed an isolated arterial-cavernosal fistula within the proximal left corporal body. The patient underwent percutaneous embolization of the fistula with successful resolution of his condition and return of normal erectile function. We discuss this unique case of high-flow priapism occurring after blunt trauma from military parachute injury and review suggested management in a stepwise fashion. The case is significant in that extensive literature review yields no previously described case of priapism following trauma from military parachute injury.

Military physician recruitment and retention: a survey of students at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Recent strategies employed in response to military physician recruitment shortfalls have consisted of increasing financial incentives for students in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) while offering no increased incentive for attendance at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). To gauge the impact of these incentive increases on the decision of medical students to attend USUHS, a prospective e-mail survey of current USUHS medical students was conducted. The survey was distributed to 674 USUHS medical students from all four class years, of which 41% responded. Students were asked to prioritize incentives and disincentives for military service and USUHS, as well as respond to whether recent incentives applied solely to the HPSP would have affected their decision to attend USUHS. Data were assessed using a weighted scale with responses ranked highest receiving a score of 3, responses ranked second receiving a weighted score of 2, and those ranked third receiving a weighted score of 1. The total weighted sum for each question response across the respondent population was then tallied in aggregate and assigned a weighted score to identify factors consistently ranked highest among the students. Patriotic duty and serving uniformed personnel were ranked most appealing about military service. Combat and deployment considerations were ranked least appealing about military service. Also of note, numerous survey comment box responses highlighted the perceived advantages of pooling resources between the two programs to benefit military medical student recruitment and training. Survey results suggested that current enhanced financial incentives and shorter service obligation offered by the HPSP make attendance of USUHS less appealing for current USUHS students and may negatively impact recruitment and retention of USUHS medical officers. Commensurate incentives such as promotion and credit for time in service while attending USUHS were identified by current USUHS medical students as a possible means of improving USUHS appeal.