With the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, world is facing an acute shortage of surgical and respirator masks. And along with this “face mask movement“, globally “face mask making movement” has also started. Fabric materials may provide only minimal levels of respiratory protection against virus-size submicron aerosol particles (e.g. droplet nuclei)…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Hernia – The Basics
“No disease of the human body, belonging to the province of the surgeon, requires in its treatment a greater combination of accurate anatomic knowledge, with surgical skill, than hernia and all its varieties.” – Sir Astley Cooper ‘Hernia’, a word derived from Latin for ‘Rupture’, defined as the unusual protrusion…
Emergency Medicine 
Kaplan’s Lesion : Complex Dorsal MCP joint dislocation
What is Kaplan’s lesion? Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint dislocation: Complex (Irreducible) Dorsal Mechanism of injury: Hyperextension injury Involvement: Usually occurs on border digits (Index > Little finger) Characteristic position of index finger: Hyperextended at MCP rests on dorsum of metacarpal Deviated towards middle finger Slightly flexed middle & distal phalanx with…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Novel Coronavirus Disease (CoViD-19) – “An Old Family with a New Disease”
Coronaviridae, one of the families of viruses which are known to cause diseases in mammals and birds ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. A new species which belongs to this family emerged recently causing an outbreak of a respiratory disease in the eastern part of Asia….
Emergency Medicine 
LRINEC score for Necrotizing fascitis – Mnemonic
The LRINEC (Laboratory Risk Indicator for Necrotizing Fasciitis) score is a tool to distinguish ordinary skin infections from necrotizing fasciitis. Mnemonic: NeC WASH Na level: <135 mmol/L: 2 points Creatinine: >1.6 mg/dl: 2 points WBC: <15,000/cu.mm: 0 points 15,000-25000/cu.mm: 1 point >25,000/cu.mm: 2 points Acute phase reactant (CRP): >/= 150:…
Clinical Skills and Approaches 
Cellulitis vs Early Osteomyelitis – Clinical features
Often, one may find difficulty differentiating cellulitis from osteomyelitis in a patient presenting with signs of inflammation localized to an extremity. There are few points that must be kept in the back of head, that will help us to differentiate these two entities. 1. Overlying skin findings: In osteomyelitis, the…
Clinical Skills and Approaches 
Finger test for Necrotizing Fascitis
Synonyms: Finger sweep test Finger test can be performed under Local anesthesia or General anesthesia in: Emergency department Bedside in wards Operation theaters Procedure: Area is infiltrated with local anesthetic A 2 cm test incision down to fascia is made in the suspected area The tissues are visually examined for:…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Skeletal Traction – Pin Insertion Sites
Site Point of insertion Direction Indications Olecranon (K-wire) 1.25 inches (3 cm) distal to olecranon tip – deep to subcutaneous border of upper ulna (avoids ulnar joint and open epiphysis) Medial to Lateral – At right angles to longitudinal axis of ulna (Avoids ulnar nerve) Supracondylar or Distal humerus fractures…