Inservice training reinforces preventive maintenance program.

BACKGROUND: In 1996, Congress passed legislation requiring the Department of Defense to conduct trauma training in civilian hospitals. In September of 1998 an Army team composed of surgeons, nurses, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and operating room technicians (OR techs) trained in a civilian level 1 trauma center. This study analyzes the quality of the training. METHODS: The training period was 30 days. Before and after training all members completed a questionnaire of their individual and team ability to perform at their home station, at the civilian hospital, and in the combat setting. Surgeons maintained an operative log, which was compared with their prior year's experience. Primary trauma cases (PTCs) met Residency Review Committee criteria as defined category cases and were done acutely. Other personnel tracked the percentage of supporting soldier tasks (SSTs) they performed or were exposed to during the training period. RESULTS: Review of the questionnaires revealed a significant increase in confidence levels in all areas tested (P < 0.005). The three general surgeons performed a total of 42 PTCs during the 28 call periods, or 1.5 PTCs per call period. During the prior year, the same three general surgeons performed 20 PTCs during 114 call periods for 0.175 cases per call period (P = 0.003). The maximum number of PTCs performed during one call period at the civilian center was 4, compared with 5 PTCs performed by one Army surgeon during the Somalia 1993 mass casualty event. Performance of or exposure to SSTs was 71% for the EMTs, 94% for the nurses, and 79% for the OR techs. CONCLUSIONS: A 1-month training experience at a civilian trauma center provided military general surgeons with a greater trauma experience than they receive in 1 year at their home station. Other personnel on the team benefited by performing or being exposed to their SSTs. Further training of military teams in civilian trauma centers should be investigated.

Education↗

PubMed2002

The diagnosis of disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration: Southampton Workshop 2000.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the current state of knowledge, current uncertainties and future needs related to the diagnosis of disorders associated with the use of vibratory hand-held tools. METHOD: An international workshop was convened with invited experts, medical doctors, scientists and engineers familiar with hand-transmitted vibration and the diagnosis of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. This paper records the general conclusions from four panel discussions. RESULTS: For the most common vascular disorder (vibration-induced white finger), the principal symptom and sign involves attacks of well-demarcated finger blanching (Raynaud's phenomenon); low finger systolic blood pressure following cooling is indicative of vibration-induced white finger and zero finger systolic blood pressure can confirm an attack of Raynaud's phenomenon. For neurological disorders, some symptoms can exist without detectable signs and some signs can exist without symptoms; numbness and tingling are commonly reported but neurological changes may be present without these symptoms. The pathogenesis of musculoskeletal disorders in users of vibratory tools is not clear; symptoms may include pain that may not be associated with abnormal results in objective tests. For both neurological and musculoskeletal disorders, a thorough neuromuscular and skeletal examination is required; diagnosis must consider the work history and medical history, the results of physical examination and any objective tests in addition to other factors (e.g. age, smoking, alcohol, systemic disorders, medication and neurotoxic agents) that might have contributed to symptoms, signs and test results. CONCLUSIONS: While vibration-induced white finger is caused by vibration, some neurological and musculoskeletal disorders are the result of work with vibratory tools where the separate roles of vibration, repetitive movements, grip and push forces, non-neutral postures and any other ergonomic stressors are often unclear. Such disorders may be more easily identified as being caused by the work rather than by exposure to hand-transmitted vibration per se. A person found to have developed disorders induced by either vibration or the work situation should not be returned to the same vibration exposure or work without any changes expected to lessen the risks.

Education↗