[Fracture of the femoral neck in bed caused by an epileptic seizure].
An 82-year-old man was brought into the emergency department after an epileptic seizure. Although the seizure took place in his bed and was not followed by a fall, his right hip was broken. No underlying bone abnormalities were found. The patient received a femoral head & neck prosthesis and recovered fully. Fractures are more common in patients with epilepsy than in the general population, due to both seizure-related trauma and a relatively high prevalence of osteoporosis, which is due partly to the use of anti-epileptic drugs. However, even after a seizure without trauma in a patient without underlying abnormalities of bone structure, a fracture may arise as a result of the force of the muscle contractions during the seizure.
Zijlmans
G J M
GJ
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, afd. Neurologie, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht. g.j.m.zijlmans@neuro.azu.nl
Huijbregts
J E
JE
van Nielen
K M B
KM
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications*; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000927:Anticonvulsants