Bilateral femoral neck fractures following a grand mal seizure.
Fractures of the hip following seizure are uncommon but may have devastating consequences if allowed to go unrecognized. The presence of groin pain suggests hip pathology, but the ability to ambulate does not necessarily rule out fracture. Sprains around joints are common; hip sprains are not. Given the powerful contractions that occur with convulsions, musculoskeletal pain following seizure should not be dismissed until fractures or dislocations have been ruled out. We report the case of a young man with bilateral hip fractures following seizure, illustrating the violent muscular forces possible.
Department of Orthopedics, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.
E
E
Vanderhooft
M
M
Swiontkowski
D000328:Adult; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000150:complications*; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*