September 15, 2007

Acute gout usuallymanifests as attacks of pain, erythema, and swelling of joints in the lower extremities and can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or colchicine. Chronic gout should be treated with uratelowering pharmacotherapy.

Some metatarsal fractures may be easily managed, whereas others require surgical intervention. Evaluation should focus on identifying any conditions that require emergent referral, followed by characterization of the fracture. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations vary…

Timely recognition and treatment of ocular emergencies, such as globe injuries, retinal detachment, central retinal artery occlusion, acute angle-closure glaucoma, and chemical burns, are important. Although most ocular emergencies require referral to the emergency department…

Although watchful waiting is a viable option in patients with lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), initial therapy may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, an exercise regimen, or a forearm strap. If symptoms persist, physical therapy may be helpful.

We are happy to announce that the EBM Toolkit has been enhanced and is now easier to access on the AFP Web site. This Toolkit has been somewhat difficult to find, so we brought it to the AFP “home” page (https://www.aafp.org/afp), updated the content, and improved the link…

House Approves Short-term SGR Formula Fix as Part of Legislation | North Carolina Seeks Expansion of Primary Care Program | Senate Committee Passes Landmark Tobacco Control Bill | Residents, Students Debate Health System Reform, Other Issues | Report Finds Community Health…

Are warning messages in advertisements for alcohol often overlooked by adolescents? They might as well be written in invisible ink, suggest the results of a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Sixty-three adolescents participated in the study, and researchers…

Overuse tendon injuries (i.e., tendinopathies) commonly occur in recreational and competitive athletes but can also occur in nonathletes. In this issue of American Family Physician, the article on lateral epicondylitis by Johnson and colleagues includes numerous treatment…

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Osteopathic Association (AOA), representing about 333,000 physicians, have developed joint principles to describe the characteristics of…

The joint principles of the patient-centered medical home (PC-MH), released by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, and American Osteopathic Association, is a landmark guideline of interprofessional…

The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

Sitagliptin may be useful as second-line or third-line therapy in patients with a mildly elevated A1C level (less than 9 percent) who do not reach their A1C goal with first-line therapy (metformin). Sitagliptin will decrease postprandial blood glucose and mildly lower fasting…

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the routine use of a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap; Adacel) among adults 19 to 64 years of age who have not already received a dose of Tdap.

CDC Releases Data on Deaths from Poisoning

CDC Reports on MRSA Infections Among Patients on Dialysis

AHA Releases Statement on the Use of COX-2 Inhibitors and NSAIDs

Gout is when you have too much uric acid in your body. Uric acid can build up and form crystals. The crystals can cause kidney stones, joint pain called arthritis, or deposits under the skin called tophi (TOE-feye).

If your doctor says it's okay, do the following wrist stretch, finger stretch, and grip exercises daily and the other exercises three times a week, every other day (for example, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Also, repeat the downward wrist stretch at the end of your…

Tennis elbow is an injury to a tendon in your elbow called the lateral epicondyle (ep-i-KON-dile). This tendon helps you move your wrist and fingers. If you use it too much, you can tear the tendon.