title: Bilateral posterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulders following epileptic seizures: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bilateral posterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulders is an uncommon complication of grand mal seizures. We report a case of bilateral posterior dislocation of the shoulders with proximal humeral fractures following epileptic seizures. A posterior fracture-dislocation of the shoulder is very rare and can be caused by epileptic seizures, trauma, electrocution or electroconvulsive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 62-year-old Sri Lankan male was admitted to our medical unit following four repeated generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, each lasting for several minutes. Following the second seizure he reported an inability to move both upper arms due to intense pain. There was no history of fall during the episodes of convulsions however but the bystanders have forcibly restrained his movements during the tonic-clonic convulsions. Clinical examination revealed severely restricted range of movement in both shoulders, with associated swelling and bruising of the shoulder joints and upper arms. Radiographs of the shoulders confirmed fractures at the level of surgical neck with posterior dislocation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bilateral posterior fracture-dislocation of shoulders complicating epileptic seizures are rare. Forcible restraining of the patient's upper limbs during seizures is the likely cause for the fracture dislocations in our patient and this had not been reported before.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Unit, Ward 01, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, Colombo, Sri Lanka. jagathsltt@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jagath
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pushpakumara
authors.affiliation: University Medical Unit, Ward 01, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, Colombo, Sri Lanka. sivagamy1980@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sivagamaroobasunthari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivathiran
authors.affiliation: University Medical Unit, Ward 01, Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Kalubowila, Colombo, Sri Lanka. allroshan999@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lasantha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roshan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka. saman.gunatilake@hotmail.com.|Board of Study in Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka. saman.gunatilake@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Saman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gunatilake
mesh_terms: D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012783:Shoulder Dislocation / Q000209:etiology*; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000209:etiology*