[Vertebral compression in epilepsy. Analysis of 8 cases].
Epileptic seizures can produce dislocations or fractures of the limbs and vertebral compression fractures. We tried to determine the clinical and radiological features of the latter in 8 patients: 6 men and 2 women including one aged only 41 years. The often multiple compression fractures involved the first thoracic (n = 3) and the intermediate thoracic (n = 3) or lower lumbar (n = 2) vertebrae but, contrary to common osteoporosis, never the thoracolumbar hinge. In 2 cases, the appearance of the fracture and the neurological signs led to surgery. Posterior dislocation of the shoulder was associated with the fractures in 2 cases. Chronic alcoholism (4 cases), anti-epileptic drugs (1 case) or corticosteroids (1 case) might have facilitated a demineralization which was however not obvious on X-ray films. The seizure was a first ever event in 6 cases. In the absence of controls the fracture was considered to be spontaneous. These particularities explain why a metastatic compression fracture was initially suspected in 3 cases, leading to explorations which sometimes were aggressive. In the presence of a suspicious vertebral compression fracture the clinician must consider the possibility of an epileptic seizure, a trauma which is sufficient to explain the fracture, as shown by the complications of electro-convulsive therapy.
Dubost
J J
JJ
Unité d'Immunologie clinique Hôpital Saint-Jacques, Clermont-Ferrand.
Vernay
D
D
Soubrier
M
M
Cauhape
P
P
Bussière
J L
JL
Sauvezie
B
B
D000328:Adult; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
Tassements vertébraux de la comitialité. Analyse de 8 cas.