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Volume 1 - Issue - 2
RWPM Geerts
1
, L Verlaan
1
, JJ Arts
2
, PBJ Tilman
1
and EJP Jansen
1
1
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Netherlands
2
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Netherlands
*Corresponding author: EJP Jansen, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orbis Medisch Centrum, Dr. H van der Hoffplein1, 6162 BG, Sittard-Geleen,
The Netherlands
Submission: October 01, 2017; Published: October 31, 2017
Abdominal Pain Caused by Bilateral Acetabular
Fractures Secondary to an Epileptic Seizure
Case Report and Review of the Literature
Copyright © All rights are reserved by EJP Jansen
Abstract
Background: Epileptic patients have increased risk of fractures. This is related to the traumatic event itself and to concomitant factors. Clear
fracture related complaints are not always present at primary survey of these patients. This indicates a thorough primary evaluation of the complete
individual post-seizure. We present a unique case of abdominal pain due to bilateral fractures fracture after an epileptic seizure.
Case Report: A 66-year old patient, who chose to live solitary and was in suboptimal hygienic condition, was admitted to the neurological
department after two epileptic seizures. Three days after admission, an abdominal radiograph revealed bilateral acetabular and pubic fractures as
chance findings. Treatment was challenging due to patient and fracture specific conditions. Conservative treatment options were limited and eventually
failed. Eventually, bilateral total hip prosthesis with bone impaction grafting were performed. At one-year follow up, no restriction in active daily living
was noted.
Conclusion: Seizure induced bilaterally acetabular fractures are very rare. Thorough physical examination after an epileptic seizure is imperative
to identify fractures. Abdominal pain can be the only symptom of a fractured acetabulum. Treatment options are dependent of patient’s morbidity,
bone quality and surgeon’s preference. Primary total hip arthroplasty might be indicated and can offer good results even in case of bilateral acetabular
fractures.
Keywords: Seizure; Bilateral; Acetabulum; Fracture; Abdominal; Treatment; Conservative; Surgical; Prosthesis; Osteoporosis; Case; Literature; Review
Introduction
Patients with epilepsy have increased fracture risks [1-3]. These
fractures can be related to the seizure itself but 40% are associated
with osteopenia [4,5]. Osteopenia may occur as a result of physical
impairment, a postmenopausal state, or can be induced by anti-
epileptic drugs [6]. Thorough secondary survey for fractures after
seizures is therefore essential especially when osteoporosis is
present.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient
in whom abdominal pain was the only complaint due to bilateral
acetabular fractures caused by epileptic seizures. Besides, the
literature is reviewed and treatment options are suggested.
Case Report
A 66-year old female was admitted to the neurological ward
after two epileptic seizures. Her medical history consisted of
hypothyroidism, chronic hyponatraemia, anaemia, and a lumbar
vertebral fracture (L1) after an epileptic seizure 5 years earlier.
She suffered from poor mobility due to chronic back pain and
lived in social isolation. Traumatic injuries were not diagnosed
during primary evaluation at the emergency department. She was
admitted for neurological observation. Morbus Hashimoto and a
Hashimoto-encephalopathy (steroid-responsive encephalopathy
associated with auto-immune thyroiditis) were diagnosed during
the first days. Her laboratory results showed a small drop in
serum hemoglobin one day after admission (8.9mmol/L and
8.4mmol/L on day 0 and day 1, respectively). During mobilization
she complained of persevering abdominal pain. Three days after
admission, an abdominal radiograph revealed bilateral acetabular
and pubic fractures as chance findings.
Further radiographic (Figure 1) and computed tomographic
(CT, Figure 2) pelvic analysis revealed multi-fragmented acetabular
fractures with protrusion of both femoral heads through the
Case Report
Orthopedic Research
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