A toxic shot from the hip.
A 26-year-old man developed a movement disorder characterised by bradyphrenia, bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and dystonia, several years after having been shot by a gun in the hip. Laboratory investigations revealed anaemia and porphyria. The authors demonstrate that his neurological condition was a delayed manifestation of lead toxicity, caused by slow absorption of lead from persisting bullet fragments in the hip joint. Treatment with excision of the femoral head and debridement of the hip followed by a total hip, in combination with chelating therapy, led to a remarkable remission.
Oomen
Judith W P M
JW
Department of Orthopedic Surgery 357, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands.
Smits
Bart W
BW
Swinkels
Dorine W
DW
Schreurs
Berend W
BW
Bloem
Bastiaan R
BR
Hendriks
Mathijs P
MP
D000328:Adult; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D020265:Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Adult / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000139:chemically induced; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging