This week at the hospital… 

I had a patient (in his 70s) who came in with lower extremity swelling, pain, and redness.  He had scraped his shin on a piece of furniture and it had become inflamed and painful.  He came to the hospital after being placed on antibiotics for the injury but it just kept getting worse.  He eventually developed a massive hematoma (collection of blood under the skin) which resulted in pressure in the leg from swelling, compromising his already irritated (and fragile) skin.  The hematoma eventually burst, requiring surgical consultation.  A complicated hospital course, right? I sat and spoke with this patient for a long time about how the injury occurred and about his medical history, which was lengthy.  He was not clear on how ea