The Increased Mortality Rate with Lower Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injury during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Study
Background: the COVID-19 pandemic with the following lockdown strategies have affected virtually all aspects of everyday life. Health services all over the world faced the crisis on an unprecedented scale, hampering timely care delivery. The present study was designed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the incidence and treatment of traumatic brain injuries in Poland. Methods: the data on hospital admissions with traumatic brain injuries as the primary diagnosis were extracted from the National Health Fund of Poland. For the purpose of this study, the search was limited to four relevant diagnosis-related groups. The overall in-house mortality was calculated. Results: there wer…
The Symmetry of Lower Back Pain as a Potential Screening Factor for Serious Pathology: A Survey Study
Background: Pain maps provide reliable information on pain location in various conditions. This study explored the feasibility of pain maps as a screening tools for serious underlying conditions. The pain symmetry was evaluated as the possible distinguishing feature. Methods: A Web-based survey on the correlation of pain-related disability and pain pattern was developed. Respondents with lower back pain were asked to mark the exact location of their pain over the pain chart. The symmetry index was calculated and used to divide subjects into two groups that were then compared in terms of the prevalence of red flags for serious pathologies, as well as the pain-related disability measured with…