Pediatric Orthopedic Injuries Following an Earthquake: Experience in an Acute-Phase Field Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps deployed a field hospital in Port au Prince. The purpose of this study was to characterize the injuries sustained by the pediatric population treated in the hospital and examine the implications for planning deployment in future similar disasters. METHODS: Medical records of children treated in the hospital were reviewed and compared with medical records of the adult population. RESULTS: A total of 1,111 patients were treated in the hospital. Thirty-seven percent were aged 0 to 18 years. Earthquake-related injuries were the cause of admission in 47% of children and 66% of adults. Forty-seven percent of children with traumatic injuries sustained fractures. Seventy-two percent were in the lower limbs, 19% were in the upper limbs, and 9% were in the axial skeleton, with the femur being the most common long bone fractured compared with the tibia in adults. There were four functional operating theaters, and treatment guidelines were adjusted to the rapidly changing situation. Soft tissue injuries were treated by aggressive debridement. Fractures were stabilized by external fixation or casting. Amputation was performed only for nonviable limbs or life-threatening sepsis. Children were more likely than adults to undergo surgery (44% vs. 29% of trauma patients). To maximize hospital surge capacity, minor procedures were performed in the wards under sedation, and patients were discharged after an average of 1.4 days, with subsequent follow-up in the clinic. CONCLUSION: Children constitute a high percentage of patients in a developing country. The epidemiology of pediatric injuries following an earthquake differs significantly from that encountered in everyday practice and compared with that in adults. Children sustain a significantly higher percentage of femoral fractures and are more likely to require surgery. The shift to nontraumatic reasons for admission occurred earlier in the pediatric population than in adults. Organizations providing post-earthquake relief are usually geared toward adult populations and will require supplementation of both manpower and equipment specifically suited for treatment of pediatric patients. Early deployment teams should be adequately staffed with adult and pediatric orthopedists.

Pediatric orthopedic injuries following an earthquake: experience in an acute-phase field hospital.

BACKGROUND: Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps deployed a field hospital in Port au Prince. The purpose of this study was to characterize the injuries sustained by the pediatric population treated in the hospital and examine the implications for planning deployment in future similar disasters. METHODS: Medical records of children treated in the hospital were reviewed and compared with medical records of the adult population. RESULTS: A total of 1,111 patients were treated in the hospital. Thirty-seven percent were aged 0 to 18 years. Earthquake-related injuries were the cause of admission in 47% of children and 66% of adults. Forty-seven percent of children with traumatic injuries sustained fractures. Seventy-two percent were in the lower limbs, 19% were in the upper limbs, and 9% were in the axial skeleton, with the femur being the most common long bone fractured compared with the tibia in adults.There were four functional operating theaters, and treatment guidelines were adjusted to the rapidly changing situation. Soft tissue injuries were treated by aggressive debridement. Fractures were stabilized by external fixation or casting. Amputation was performed only for nonviable limbs or life-threatening sepsis. Children were more likely than adults to undergo surgery (44% vs. 29% of trauma patients). To maximize hospital surge capacity, minor procedures were performed in the wards under sedation, and patients were discharged after an average of 1.4 days, with subsequent follow-up in the clinic. CONCLUSION: Children constitute a high percentage of patients in a developing country. The epidemiology of pediatric injuries following an earthquake differs significantly from that encountered in everyday practice and compared with that in adults. Children sustain a significantly higher percentage of femoral fractures and are more likely to require surgery. The shift to nontraumatic reasons for admission occurred earlier in the pediatric population than in adults. Organizations providing post-earthquake relief are usually geared toward adult populations and will require supplementation of both manpower and equipment specifically suited for treatment of pediatric patients. Early deployment teams should be adequately staffed with adult and pediatric orthopedists. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level IV.

Serum inflammatory markers in overweight children and adolescents with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: Obesity, a worldwide pandemia, is associated with a large variety of comorbidities, among which is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. NAFLD is a complex disease that may eventually lead to cirrhosis, posing a high risk for the patient and thus necessitating early diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between ultrasonographically diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the levels of serum inflammatory markers in obese children and adolescents. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted in children and adolescents attending the endocrine obesity clinic in a tertiary care children's hospital in 2001-2003. Blood tests and ultrasound were performed to detect the presence of fatty liver. The severity of fatty liver was determined by measuring the liver/kidney echogenicity ratio (hepatorenal index). Blood tests included complete blood count, liver enzymes, lipid profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation as measured in peripheral blood slides. RESULTS: The 30 boys and 34 girls, age 9-21 years, who participated in the study were divided into those who evidenced NAFLD on ultrasound (Group 1, n=37) and those whose liver appeared normal on ultrasound (Group 2, n=24). ESR, hs-CRP, SAA and the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation were compared between the groups. There was no significant association between elevated ESR, the levels of CRP, SAA and/or the degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/aggregation and the hepatorenal index and NAFLD. The degree of erythrocyte adhesiveness/ aggregation correlated with body mass index-standard deviation score in both genders (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fatty liver itself may not be a cofactor in stimulating inflammatory markers in obese patients. Obese children diagnosed with NAFLD may have simple steatosis and their increased inflammatory markers are therefore compatible with those expected in obesity.

[Tetracyclines and ciprofloxacin as treatment for children and pregnant or lactating women in the era of biological terror].

Many forms of bacteria, such as anthrax, can be used as biological weapons. According to the CDC guidelines, Ciprofloxacin or Doxycycline is recommended for antimicrobial prophylaxis against anthrax for 60 days. Since October 8, approximately 32,000 persons with potential exposure to anthrax have initiated antimicrobial prophylaxis, mainly with Ciprofloxacin. Children and pregnant and lactating women are likely to be among the increasing number of persons receiving Ciprofloxacin or Doxycycline as a prophylaxis regardless of the potential danger of these drugs. Once the bacteria in question are shown to be sensitive to other antibiotics, treatment should be switched to antibiotics that are commonly used in children and pregnant women. The main consideration in prescribing these antibiotics is the fear of anthrax morbidity and mortality, as opposed to the risk of antibiotic side effects. The best treatment should be provided even though it can cause side effects. This paper reviews the information about the indications, dosage and side effects of Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline in children and pregnant women and lactating women.

[Biological warfare: disease prevention and post exposure medical treatment].

The use of biological warfare agents has become a reality in recent years, emphasizing the need for local and national preparedness programs. In the event of a biological attack, the use of medical measures for prophylaxis and treatment can greatly reduce its impact. Antibiotics, active and passive immunizations, and antiviral agents can all be used for this purpose. Since diseases resulting from biological warfare agents have an incubation period of days, there is a short time period in which proper post exposure prophylaxis may be given. This paper provides a therapeutic approach to patients exposed to biological warfare agents, in comparison to the management of naturally occurring diseases.

[Anthrax--an overview at 2002].

BACKGROUND: Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, is well known in human history as a major cause of disease in domestic and wild animals and as a rare condition in humans. For the last seventy years, anthrax was developed and occasionally stored as an agent of biological weapon arsenal in numerous countries. The incubation period in humans is 1-6 days and the disease may be present as three distinct clinical syndromes: cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal disease. The major concern in regard of biological warfare is the inhalational form of anthrax, which starts as a febrile flu-like disease. The development of malaise, fatigue, cough and mild chest discomfort is followed by severe respiratory distress with dyspnea, diaphoresis, stridor, and cyanosis. Shock and death occur within 24-36 hours after onset of severe symptoms. Physical findings are non-specific, but a widened mediastinum is usually seen on chest x-ray. A positive blood culture, immunohistochemical methods and the use of the polymerase chain reaction method confirm the diagnosis. Although effectiveness may be limited after severe symptoms are present, a high dose of antibiotic treatment should be administered and aggressive supportive therapy may be necessary. In the situation of an anthrax attack, as was recently seen in the United States, penicillin is no longer recommended as an acceptable first line therapy. In this case, ciprofloxacin or doxycycline is the recommended drug of choice since penicillin-resistant strains may be used, as well as the possibility of the emergence of an inducible beta-lactamase positive bacterium. Since a high infecting dose may exacerbate the clinical course of the disease, a combination antibiotic regimen should be considered. The disease is not contagious and standard precautions are sufficient. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is based on a vaccine administration, while post-exposure prophylaxis is feasible by the initial use of oral ciprofloxacin or doxycycline. In this article we reviewed the literature with emphasis on the recent medical reports from the United States analyzing the eleven cases of inhalational anthrax as well as the new guidelines for diagnosis and treatment that resulted from the bioterrorism attack in October 2001. Although physical findings were non-specific, abnormal findings on chest x-rays were present in all the eleven cases. A positive blood culture, immunohistochemical methods and the use of the polymerase chain reaction method were highly valuable in revealing and confirming the diagnosis of anthrax. In the case of an attack with anthrax spores, the likelihood of exposure to a large infective dose of high quality spores, may require a prolonged period of treatment as well as prolonged post-exposure therapy.

[The history of biological warfare].

Selected events in the history of biological weapons are highlighted to increase the physician's awareness of this crucial threat. The deliberate use of biological substances originated in antiquity and has pervaded the history of human wars throughout time until the 21th century. The history of biological warfare is difficult to assess because of a number of confounding factors. These include the difficulty in verification of allegation, the use of the threat of this weapon for propaganda purposes, the lack of microbiological or epidemiological data, and the incidence of natural occurring endemic or epidemic diseases during hostilities. Although it may be problematic to verify at times, the use of such weapons has not been limited to national armies or militia. Frustrated civilians, terrorists and even physicians have used biological substances to promote their interests. Today, the biological threat has become more serious. It's potency, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to manufacture and deploy it with little sophistication, or under the semblance of legitimate commercial endeavors, will ensure that biological weapons remain a constant threat to human health.

[Plague].

Plague has been known to mankind for hundreds of years, and it has caused some of the most devastating epidemics in history. This review covers epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of the disease, and is intended to serve as a tool for the physician for treating plague patients.

[Viral hemorrhagic fever as a biological weapon].

The viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever belong to four virus families: the Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae and Flaviviridae. These viruses are candidates for biological warfare agents because they are stable when aerosolized and cause severe debilitating disease. Research and development regarding the use of these viruses as warfare agents has been performed in the former Soviet Union and other countries. The introduction of these agents into non endemic countries poses a major public health threat to that country. Israel is not endemic for these agents, and therefore, local infection can occur from a traveller (human or animal) from an endemic country or due to intentional dissemination. Major clinical manifestations of hemorrhagic fevers are that of fever, rash, malaise and hemorrhagic signs. Due to the similarity between syndromes, any person with a history of persistent fever and any sign of hemorrhage should be considered as having viral hemorrhagic fever, and appropriate care instituted. Definitive diagnosis requires laboratory testing and is important to identify a possible biological warfare attack and to prepare for appropriate defense. This paper reviews the viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever, and their role as possible warfare agents.

Preparedness of the Israeli health system for a biologic warfare event.

The threat of a disease outbreak resulting from biologic warfare has been of concern for the Israeli health system for many years. In order to be prepared for such an event the health system has formulated doctrines for various biologic agents and defined the logistic elements for the procurement of drugs. During the last 4 years, and especially after the West Nile fever epidemic in 2000, efforts to prepare the healthcare system and the relevant organizations were accelerated. The Director-General of the Ministry of Health nominated a Supreme Steering Committee to fill in the gaps and upgrade the preparedness of the health system for an unusual disease outbreak. This committee and its seven subcommittees established appropriate guidelines, communication routes among different organizations, and training programs for medical personnel. The anthrax outbreak in the United States found the healthcare system in the hub of the preparation process, and all modes of action were intensified. Further work by hospitals, primary care clinics and all other institutes should be increased to maintain a state of proper preparedness.