Pathological fracture complicating epidural local anaesthetic opioid infusion for cancer pain.
Two cases of severe bone pains from metastatic cancer, without clinical or radiological evidence of fractures on admission, are presented. Pain control and mobilization were achieved initially with local anaesthetic-opioid epidural infusion. Subsequent loss of analgesia prompted a re-examination, which revealed pathological fractures of the femur. Internal fixation of the fractures resulted in good control such that strong opioids were no longer required.
Amanor-Boadu
S D
SD
Department of Anaesthesia, University College Hospital, Ibadan.
Jack
T M
TM
D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography