Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm masquerading as isolated hip pain: an unusual presentation.
The rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a catastrophic event. Misdiagnosis by first-contact emergency physicians remains a serious concern. Varied and frequently nonspecific presentations lead to erroneous diagnostic impressions and cause significant delays in definitive intervention. We report the case of a 73-year-old man with a ruptured AAA presenting with isolated acute right hip pain without any classical features such as truncal pain or hypotension. Despite major advances in imaging and definitive treatment, a heightened awareness among emergency physicians remains the only effective means of improving detection and thereby survival.
Vaidyanathan
Sriram
S
Emergency Medicine, Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Nottinghamshire, UK. srivaidyanathan@gmail.com
Wadhawan
Himanshu
H
Welch
Pedro
P
El-Salamani
Murad
M
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed