Integumentary System: Wound Assessment and Appropriate Closure Techniques
Robert Waskowitz, MD
Basic wound assessment and immediate wound care is a common area of expertise for the practicing athletic trainer. An emerging skill area within the athletic trainer’s education, and within the AT’s scope of practice, is advancement of wound closure techniques to include basics of suturing.
Note: The methods and skills practiced in this session are for educational growth, and completion DOES NOT infer certification. Athletic trainers must practice per their respective state practice act, within the standing orders of their collaborating physician(s) and may require appropriate privileging documents (legal).
Learning Objectives
- Discuss wound assessment.
- Discuss appropriate closure techniques.
- Demonstrate proper application for creating a sterile field.
- Demonstrate wound debridement & preparation techniques.
- Demonstrate proper anesthetic preparation & administration.
- Select appropriate suture materials.
- Demonstrate proper use of suturing instruments.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform a simple interrupted suture.
Common Joint Dislocations: Recognition & Reduction Methods – Fingers (IP) Joint
Christopher Judson, MD
Athletic trainers practice as on-site health care professionals for activities in which finger (IP) joint dislocations are of common occurrence. Recognition of the three types of IP joint dislocations, and knowledge of the associated soft tissue structures are important for reduction method decisions. Best outcomes are dependent upon proper reduction of the IP joint for restoring range of motion and preventing contractures.
Note: The methods and skills practiced in this session are for educational growth, and completion DOES NOT infer certification. Athletic trainers must practice per their respective state practice act, within the standing orders of their collaborating physician(s) and may require appropriate privileging documents (legal).
Learning Objectives
- Recognize the three different types of finger (IP) dislocations: dorsal, ventral, lateral.
- Discuss the potential associated soft tissue and bony injuries.
- Explain the methods for finger (IP) reduction.
Common Joint Dislocations: Recognition & Reduction Methods – Shoulder (GH) Joint
J. Kristopher Ware, MD
Athletic trainers practice professionally with the consent and under the direction of a health care provider and through standing orders that permit patient care to be initiated. Team physicians have the responsibility of determining the professional skill level of the athletic trainer under their direction to ensure optimal patient care is provided. The interpretation of the complete initial assessment remains key to starting active treatment under the prescribed standing orders with the patients. Mentoring is a long-term process of evaluating the professional skills and the decision-making process for professionals working under the direction of health care provider.
Note: The methods and skills practiced in this session are for educational growth, and completion DOES NOT infer certification. Athletic trainers must practice per their respective state practice act, within the standing orders of their collaborating physician(s) and may require appropriate privileging documents (legal).
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the different types of shoulder (GH) dislocations – anterior, posterior, inferior.
- Explain the methods for shoulder (GH) reduction.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform a shoulder (GH) reduction.
Common Joint Dislocations: Recognition & Reduction Methods – Patella
J. Kristopher Ware, MD
Athletic trainers practice as on-site health care professionals for activities in which patella dislocations occur. Recognition of the types of patella dislocations and knowledge of the associated soft tissue structures are important for reduction method decisions. Best outcomes are dependent upon proper reduction of the patella-femoral joint for restoring range of motion and preventing contractures.
Note: The methods and skills practiced in this session are for educational growth, and completion DOES NOT infer certification. Athletic trainers must practice per their respective state practice act, within the standing orders of their collaborating physician(s) and may require appropriate privileging documents (legal).
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the types of patella dislocation categories – acute, chronic/re-occurring.
- Explain the methods for patella reduction.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform a patella reduction.
Plain Film Diagnostics: Views for Common Orthopedic Injuries
Jeffrey Brown, MD & Tara Futrell, MD
Athletic trainers will benefit from advancing their knowledge of diagnostic imaging commonly used by the medical community for diagnosis of orthopedic pathology. While an athletic trainer is not permitted to directly order or to exclusively review radiographs with the patients, it remains an important clinical skill for understanding and supporting the ordering health care provider’s diagnosis. Competence in the fundamentals of musculoskeletal radiology and imaging – including how x-ray images are produced, and the importance of proper anatomical knowledge in interpreting imaging- will be an invaluable adjunct skill for identifying skeletal deformities.
Note: The methods and skills practiced in this session are for educational growth, and completion DOES NOT infer certification. Athletic trainers must practice per their respective state practice act, within the standing orders of their collaborating physician(s) and may require appropriate privileging documents (legal).
Learning Objectives
- Recognize basic terminology used by health professionals when discussing plain film radiology imaging.
- Discuss common x-ray views for identifying specific orthopedic pathology.
- Demonstrate diagnostic accuracy by correctly interpreting common x-ray images in the lower extremity.
- Demonstrate diagnostic accuracy by correctly interpreting common x-ray images in the upper extremity.