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Accidents and injuries
Back injuries
Back injuries are very common, and often occur as a result of sudden movements, bumps, knocks or falls. Learn more about the signs of back injury and...
Bumps, knocks and bruises
Bumps, knocks and bruises are common injuries that everyone will experience from time to time. Read more about treatments for bumps, knocks and bruise...
Chest injuries
Chest injury is any injury to the chest area, between the neck and the abdomen. Learn about the signs of injury and treatments.
Falls and how to prevent them
Everyone can be at risk of having a fall, but some older adults can be more vulnerable than others. Read about how to take steps to prevent falls.
First aid kits
An organised and properly stocked first aid kit can give you peace of mind in a medical emergency.
Head injuries
The most common causes of head injuries are falls, assaults and car accidents. Find out more about the symptoms and treatments here.
Knee injuries
There are two general kinds of knee problems: mechanical and inflammatory. Find out more about knee injuries as a result of accidents or illness.
Limb injuries
A limb injury is any injury to a limb, such as a leg or arm, or to their toes and fingers. Find out more about limb injuries and its many causes.
Subdural haematoma
A subdural haematoma is a tear of a blood vessel between the surface of the brain and a layer covering the brain, usually caused by a blow to the head...
Causes of wounds and cuts
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Top results
Parenting and Child Health - Health Topics - Cuts, grazes and bruises
Children often injure themselves during play, and older children can be injured during sporting activities. While the body is very good at healing itself, cuts and grazes usually heal more quickly if simple first aid steps are followed.
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Kids' Health - Topics - Cuts and grazes
Do you ever fall over and hurt yourself? Every one does sometimes and when you are active and growing it can happen more often
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Black eye in children and teenagers | Raising Children Network
A black eye can happen if your child has a bump to the eye area. Treat black eyes at home with an ice-pack, but also have a doctor check your childs eye.
Read more on Raising Children Network website
Parenting and Child Health - Health Topics - Head injuries - babies and children
Children's heads are often hurt when they fall over or bump into something hard
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Children and head injuries
A head injury or head trauma happens when the brain is swollen, torn, stretched, shaken, compressed, bruised or pierced. Read our page to find what you should do if you think your child has had a head injury.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Wound care - myDr.com.au
Different types of wounds require different types of care, depending on whether they have resulted from surgery, punctures, burns, tears or ulcers.
Read more on myDr website
Breast Core Biopsy - Consumer Information - InsideRadiology
InsideRadiology
Read more on InsideRadiology website
Kids' Health - Topics - First aid - bleeding - info for kids
Blood can carry diseases in it so be careful
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Kids' Health - Topics - Nails
Nails are made in folds of the skin near the ends of our fingers and toes
Read more on Women's and Children's Health Network website
Minor Head Injury in Children
Read more on Queensland Health website
Top results
Immediate closure or delayed closure for treating traumatic wounds in the first 24 hours following injury | Cochrane
Immediate closure or delayed closure for treating traumatic wounds in the first 24 hours following injury
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
'Red-light cameras' cut casualty crashes at junctions with traffic lights | Cochrane
Road crashes are a leading cause of death and injury. One common place for these to happen is at junctions (intersections) controlled by traffic signals. 'Red-light cameras' are now widely used to identify drivers that jump ('run') red lights, who can then be prosecuted. This review looked for studies of their effectiveness in reducing the number of times that drivers drive through red lights and the number of crashes. Very little research has been done and much of it has not allowed for the statistical problems that occur when recording this kind of information. However, five studies in Australia, Singapore and the USA all found that use of red-light cameras cut the number of crashes in which there were injuries. In the best conducted of these studies, the reduction was nearly 30%. More research is needed to determine best practice for red-light camera programmes, including how camera sites are selected, signing policies, publicity programmes and penalties.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Should prophylactic antibiotics be used in patients with penetrating abdominal trauma? | Cochrane
For over half a century antibiotics have been given to patients that have suffered from a penetrating injury to the abdominal peritoneal cavity in an attempt to decrease the incidence of post-operative wound infection, intra-abdominal infection and mortality. This review was designed to assess whether or not this practice is supported by medical evidence.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Minor burn management: potions and lotions | Issue 4 | Volume 38 | Australian Prescriber
The first aid for burns is to run cold water over the burn for 20 minutes. This is effective for up to three hours after the injury. Assess the affected body...
Read more on Australian Prescriber website
TEVAR versus open surgery for blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury | Cochrane
Blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) caused by motor vehicle accident and blunt thoracic trauma is a surgical emergency with high mortality rate. Most patients do not survive long enough to reach the hospital. Two main treatment options for BTAI are open surgery and thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR).
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Scalpel or no-scalpel approach to the vas | Cochrane
Vasectomy is a surgical method used in men to cut or tie the vas deferens. The vas is a tube that delivers sperm from the testicles. The purpose of vasectomy is to provide permanent birth control. Usually the operation involves cutting the skin of the scrotum with a scalpel. A newer technique uses a sharp instrument to puncture the skin instead. The intent is to have fewer problems with bleeding, bruising, and infection. This review looked at whether the no-scalpel approach to the vas worked as well as the scalpel method. It also studied any side effects of the methods and whether the men liked the method.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Probable that silver-containing dressings and creams do not prevent wound infection or promote healing | Cochrane
Probable that silver-containing dressings and creams do not prevent wound infection or promote healing
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Area-wide traffic calming (such as introducing road/speed humps) may reduce death and injury from road traffic crashes but more research is needed | Cochrane
Area-wide traffic calming (such as introducing road/speed humps) may reduce death and injury from road traffic crashes but more research is needed
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Surgical repair versus non-surgical management of spontaneous perineal tears | Cochrane
Trauma to the perineum of varying degrees constitutes the most common form of obstetric injury. The perineum is the area between the vagina and rectum which can tear during childbirth. In clinical practice these tears are often sutured. However, small tears may also heal well without surgical interference. If pain is experienced, this can result in decreased mobility and discomfort with passing urine or faeces and may negatively impact on the woman's ability to breast feed and care for her new baby. Our review included two randomised controlled trials (involving 154 women) comparing surgical repair of first-degree (involving only the perineal or vaginal skin) or second-degree tears (also involving muscle) with leaving the wound to heal spontaneously. These trials showed no clear differences in clinical outcomes between the groups. The studies did not find any differences in pain immediately and up to eight weeks postpartum. One of the trials reported no difference in wounds complications, but the other showed differences in wound closure and poor wound approximation in the non-sutured group. There was no information about the effect on long-term outcomes such as sexual discomfort or incontinence. More research is needed to provide a strong evidence-based recommendation for clinical practice.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Rectal analgesia for pain from perineal trauma following childbirth | Cochrane
Women often suffer pain if their birth involves trauma to the perineum (area between the vagina and the anus). This trauma can result from an episiotomy (surgical cut) or from a tear that requires stitching. There are ways to reduce the possibility of trauma, but for women with pain the review of trials found that rectal suppositories were effective for pain relief up to 24 hours after birth. Longer-term effects have not been investigated. More research is required to assess the longer-term outcomes and effects, if any, on breast milk, mother-baby bonding and sexual functioning.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
