Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Initially Missed Diagnosis of Quadriceps Partial Tendon Tear

Urgent message: Quadriceps tendon tears are misdiagnosed frequently, leaving patients at excessive risk for long-term disability. Early identification and immediate referral for further care—often, surgery—is necessary for optimal outcomes. Low-riding patella (patella baja) commonly seen in complete tendon tears. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.) Introduction Musculoskeletal injuries are among of the most common problems seen in the urgent care setting. Quadriceps tendon tears are uncommon injuries, with an incidence of approximately 1.4/100,000 per year. Consequently, …

November 2016

Midline Neck Mass

Urgent message: Swelling of the neck is a common problem seen in the urgent care setting. Etiologies range from infectious to lymphatic to malignant. If serious conditions are not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, complications may lead to airway compromise, sepsis, or even death. How this article helps you: alerts you to uncommon presentations of neck masses. Introdution Swelling in various areas of the neck is frequently seen in urgent care centers. Most …

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: Dermatologic Manifestation of a Life- Threatening, Systemic Disease

Urgent message: Obtaining a detailed medical history is paramount for the early detection and treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Failure to acquire adequate patient information can lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment of this potentially life-threatening disease. WHITNEY CRAMER, PA-C Many dermatologic conditions such as rashes and eczema are encountered by urgent care providers on a daily basis. Often these conditions are diagnosed as contact dermatitis or are misdiagnosed, or the patient is referred …

Palatine Mass: Physiologic or Pathologic?

Urgent message: Urgent care physicians often encounter patients with masses in the mouth. If they are aware of the existence of toripalatinus and know how to treat them, they can reassure patients who may mistake this benign, congenital bony growth for cancer. JOSHUA WILSON, MS3, and SHAILENDRA SAXENA, MD, PhD Introduction Urgent care and primary-care physicians often must evaluate masses within the mouth. These masses commonly originate from the submandibular or sublingual gland, but a …

September 2015

Soft-Tissue Infection Due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila

Urgent message: Failure to recognize and treat the early development of skin and soft-tissue infection from a stingray envenomation may result in significant tissue necrosis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. WILLIAM A. WOOLERY, DO, PhD, MS, MBA, FACOFP Stingray injuries to humans are very common but rarely fatal. Approximately 2000 cases are reported annually in the United States.1–3 At my rural hospital on the west coast of Florida, we see an average of 45 such …

July/August 2015

Acute Severe Thigh Pain While Running

Urgent message: Summer brings increased participation in outdoor activities and sports in which patients are likely to sustain injury. Patients with thigh injuries, such as injury to the quadriceps and patellar tendon, may present to the urgent care center. Timely diagnosis is essential in preserving strength and function of the quadriceps complex. TRACEY QUAIL DAVIDOFF, MD Patients who run and jump are at risk for injuring their quadriceps complex. These activities are common in the …

Case Report