Pelvic stress fracture: assessment and risk factors

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the case of a patient with a pelvic stress fracture and the differential considerations among patients presenting with hip and/or groin pain. FEATURES: A 42-year-old woman had hip pain after running. Initial radiograph of the pelvis was negative. Subsequent films showed a right inferior pubic ramus stress fracture. Stress fractures of the pelvis are relatively uncommon, accounting for only 1% to 2% of all stress fractures. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Treatment included high-velocity, low-amplitude chiropractic manipulation, ultrasound, and stretching of the psoas and piriformis muscles. After 8 weeks, care was discontinued because the patient's hip pain had resolved. The pelvic fracture was left to heal with time. After 1 year, the patient still had delayed union of the fracture. CONCLUSION: When predisposing factors are present, such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, pelvic stress fracture should be suspected in patients with groin or hip-area pain. However, because pelvic stress fractures are relatively rare, radiographic studies are often postponed, making diagnosis difficult.     

骨水泥椎体成形修复类风湿关节炎合并Kümmell病：骨折椎体高度及脊柱稳定性随访

背景：对于类风湿关节炎合并Kümmel 病患者,如何能够有效控制背部疼痛,尽快恢复患者的活动能力、避免失用性骨质疏松的恶性循环是一个重要的治疗目标。椎体后凸成形是近年来发展起来的脊柱微创外科新技术,椎体后凸成形治疗类风湿关节炎合并Kümmel 病尚未见文献报道。目的：评价骨水泥椎体成形治疗类风湿关节炎合并Kümmel 病的临床疗效。方法：自2012年6月至2013年7月应用骨水泥椎体成形治疗11例类风湿关节炎合并Kümmel 病患者,全部为女性,年龄（65.4±5.1）岁,均有剧烈腰背疼痛。对比观察术前及随访时后腰背疼痛情况及影像学相关指标,影像学指标包括手术前、后骨折椎椎体前缘高度、椎体前后缘高度比值及局部后凸角度（Cobb法）。结果与结论：11例患者无失访,随访6-12个月。随访时与术前目测类比评分、骨折椎前缘高度、骨折椎前缘高度/后缘高度、局部后凸角度相比,差异均有显著性意义（P〈0.05）。2例患者发生骨水泥渗漏,无肺栓塞、神经功能障碍等严重并发症发生。提示骨水泥椎体成形治疗类风湿关节炎合并Kümmel 病患者,可有效缓解腰背疼痛,部分恢复骨折椎体高度,重建脊柱稳定性,减少局部后凸,是安全有效的修复方法之一。     

Insufficiency fracture of the sternum simulating myocardial infarction: case report and review of the literature

Insufficiency fracture is a type of stress fracture that occurs when stress is applied to the bone with less than the normal elastic resistance, as in osteoporosis. Insufficiency fracture of the sternum is rare among all kinds of fractures. We describe two cases with insufficiency fractures of the sternum secondary to osteoporosis and thoracic kyphotic deformity. Both of the present cases, a 76-year-old woman and a 65-year-old woman, presented with severe anterior chest pain simulating myocardial infarction. However, cardiopulmonary examinations including chest radiographs, electrocardiograms, and laboratory tests were normal. Lateral radiographs of the sternum in both patients showed insufficiency fractures of the sternum. Conservative treatment with rib bandaging/bracing and analgesics relieved their symptoms. Clinical behavior, type of sternal insufficiency fractures, and mechanism of the fracture are reviewed from perusal of the literature. We emphasize that sternal insufficiency fracture should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute chest pain in the elderly along with myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism.     

A case of rheumatoid arthritis with unilateral knee synovial hypertrophy in hemiplegia

A 64-year-old woman suffering right hemiplegia came in with pain and swelling on her left knee, general weakness and poor oral intake for 2 months. On physical examination we were able to palpate a mass with irregular margin around the left suprapatellar area. From the results of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), synovial proliferative disease, infectious arthritis, or gouty arthritis was suspected. We performed a blood laboratory test to detect rheumatologic diseases, knee joint aspiration, and bone scan for differential diagnosis, and were able to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the results of blood laboratory, physical examination, and bone scan. Consequently, we started medications for controlling RA. Herein, we report a case of rheumatoid arthritis with unilateral knee synovial hypertrophy in hemiplegia. If a right hemiplegic patient has recurrent pain on the left knee and synovial hypertrophy, and fails to respond to treatment for osteoarthritis, early detection by evaluation for rheumatic disease is crucial to prevent severe sequelae influencing rehabilitation of hemiplegia.     

自然三联疗法对老年骨质疏松性骨折康复的影响

目的探讨自然三联疗法对老年骨质疏松性骨折康复的影响。方法将124例老年骨质疏松性骨折患者随机分为两组。针对促进骨质疏松情况的康复,两组均采用补充钙盐和降钙素治疗,对照组60例采用常规方法进行康复护理;观察组64例在此基础上采取营养、运动、日光浴自然三联疗法;于患者出院时、出院后6个月及出院后12个月测量患者骨密度情况。结果两组入院时椎体、髋部骨密度比较,差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05);治疗后6个月椎体、髋部骨密度比较,差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05);治疗后12个月椎体、髋部骨密度比较,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05);结论自然三联疗法对老年骨质疏松性骨折的康复及治疗效果,有着十分积极的作用。     

Yoga Spinal Flexion Positions and Vertebral Compression Fracture in Osteopenia or Osteoporosis of Spine: Case Series

Objective: The objective of this report is to raise awareness of the effect of strenuous yoga flexion exercises on osteopenic or osteoporotic spines. We previously described subjects with known osteoporosis in whom vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) developed after spinal flexion exercise (SFE) and recommended that SFEs not be prescribed in patients with spinal osteoporosis. Methods: This report describes 3 healthy persons with low bone mass and yoga‐induced pain or fracture. Results: All 3 patients had osteopenia, were in good health and pain‐free, and had started yoga exercises to improve their musculoskeletal health. New pain and fracture areas occurred after participation in yoga flexion exercises. Conclusions: The development of pain and complications with some flexion yoga positions in the patients with osteopenia leads to concern that fracture risk would increase even further in osteoporosis. Although exercise has been shown to be effective for improving bone mineral density and decreasing fracture risk, our subjects had development of VCFs and neck and back pain with yoga exercises. This finding suggests that factors other than bone mass should be considered for exercise counseling in patients with bone loss. The increased torque pressure applied to vertebral bodies during SFEs may be a risk. Exercise is effective and important for treatment of osteopenia and osteoporosis and should be prescribed for patients with vertebral bone loss. Some yoga positions can contribute to extreme strain on spines with bone loss. Assessment of fracture risk in older persons performing SFEs and other high‐impact exercises is an important clinical consideration.     

Mediale Schenkelhalsfraktur nach arthroskopischer Offsetkorrektur

Background

Hip arthroscopy has been established over the past decade as a safe treatment of many hip diseases. Complications such as fractures of the femoral neck are very rare.

Case report

We report the case of a 54-year-old woman who developed a stress fracture of the femoral neck 5 weeks after arthroscopic femoral neck osteochondroplasty. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a female patient.

Conclusions

Postoperative groin pain after load increase should the surgeon aware of a possible femoral neck stress fracture. For further diagnosis, physicians should not hesitate to ask for an MRI or a CT scan because conventional radiographs can be normal. Stable stress fractures can be treated conservatively with restricted weight bearing on 2 crutches for 6 weeks.

     

Cervical Spondylodiscitis,Osteomyelitis, and Epidural Abscess Mimicking a Vertebral Fracture

Background: Spinal vertebral fractures are common in elderly patients, especially after a significant fall. Neck tenderness or neurologic deficits after a fall should increase the suspicion of cervical spinal fracture. Case Report: A 75-year-old woman complained of 2 weeks of gradually increasing neck and right shoulder pain after a fall. She had an X-ray study that appeared to show an unstable C6–C7 fracture. A computed tomography scan of the neck revealed no fracture and was consistent with spondylodiscitis and osteomyelitis of C6 and C7, with an adjacent epidural abscess and mild cord compression. Conclusion: It is important to consider this diagnosis in patients with a history of infective endocarditis who develop back pain, to minimize morbidity associated with this disorder.     

Spondylolisthesis on bilateral pedicle stress fracture in the lumbar spine: a case study

We report the clinical case of a 54-year-old woman presenting radicular low back pain on the right side of L4 associated to spondylolisthesis on L4-L5, without any notion of trauma or spine surgery. Furthermore this patient is regularly seen for benign rheumatoid polyarthritis complicated by steroid-induced osteoporosis. A preventive treatment was implanted with good results on pain improvement and functional capacities. For pedicle fractures the literature review reports several different etiologies: spontaneous fractures, hereditary fractures or stress-related fractures. There was a discussion on the various treatments available and in this case of spondylolisthesis on pedicle fracture a conservative treatment was implemented similar to the one for isthmic spondylolisthesis. It yielded satisfying results.     

Postpartum pubic symphysis diastasis-conservative and surgical treatment methods,incidence of complications: Two case reports and a review of the literature

BACKGROUND Widening of the pubic joint of more than 10 mm is diagnostic and defined as pubic symphysis diastasis and is considered a complication of vaginal childbirth or pregnancy.As it is a rare pathology(ranging from 1 in 300 to 1 in 30000 pregnancies),no gold standard treatment has been defined.CASE SUMMARY This study examines two cases,a 27-year-old woman(gravida 1,para 1)and a 32-year-old woman(gravida 2,para 2),who presented to the clinic after uneventful vaginal deliveries.A normal pregnancy with no complications was observed in both patients.Severe pain in the pubic region occurred after labour and was accompanied by complicated locomotion.Pubic symphysis diastasis was confirmed radiologically and bed rest with lateral decubitus positioning was recommended.Oral non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs were administered to relieve pain exacerbations.The symptoms decreased after treatment.Posttreatment magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in the first case showed a reduction in symphyseal separation with no signs of osteitis.Three years later the symptoms recurred;MRI examination showed no further symphyseal widening or signs of osteitis.A relapse of symphyseal separation was diagnosed and conservative treatment was re-administered resulting in successful recovery.In the second case,pain recurred when the patient conceived for the second time.This time no benefit following conservative treatment was observed.Persistent pain and complicated locomotion led to scoliotic deformation of the lumbar part of the spine and leg length discrepancy,thus surgical treatment was chosen and internal pubic synthesis was performed.CONCLUSION Overall,surgical treatment resulting from insufficient conservative treatment showed a high risk of postoperative complications following the treatment of postpartum pubic symphysis diastasis.     

Apophyseal fracture of the greater trochanter

Apophyseal fractures about the pelvis and proximal femur are well-described; however, these injuries rarely involve the greater trochanter. We report the case of a 15-year-old boy of large build who appeared to have all signs and symptoms of a left slipped capital femoral epiphysis. No specific inciting event had occurred before the hip pain. Radiographs and bone scan of the capital femoral epiphysis appeared normal, and follow-up radiographs confirmed an apophyseal fracture of the greater trochanter. This case represented a rare occurrence, and its interesting manifestation was similar to that of a slipped capital femoral epiphysis.     

Nonpharmacological treatments for osteoporosis]

OBJECTIVES: Study the effectiveness of nonpharmacological treatments for osteoporosis. METHOD: Review and qualitative analysis of the literature concerning the effectiveness of nonpharmacological treatments: physical exercise, rehabilitation aiming to prevent falls, spinal orthosis, and vertebro- and kyphoplasty. RESULTS: The level of evidence of the effectiveness of nonpharmacological treatment is unequal on the basis of randomized study. The practice of physical exercise by the ambulatory elderly people and home rehabilitation for those who have previously fallen prevent the occurrence of falls. For institutionalized people, the prevention of falls is achieved by multidisciplinary programs. The use of hip protectors to prevent fracture is controversial. Physical exercises prevent bone loss after menopause and during postmenopausaul and corticosteroid osteoporosis. The effectiveness of mobilization after fracture is not documented. Only one study concerning the use of spinal orthosis after vertebral fracture reports interesting results for pain and disability. No randomized study concerning vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fracture is described. CONCLUSION: The nonpharmacological treatments of osteoporosis are considered therapeutic means of key importance. They aim at the prevention of falls and bone loss and the reduction of disability after fracture. Only physical exercise and rehabilitation have been shown to be effective in preventing falls or bone loss. Their ability to reduce the incidence of fractures remains to be evaluated.     

Exercise prescription for a patient 3 months after hip fracture

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Most patients with hip fracture do not return to prefracture functional status 1 year after surgery. The literature describing interventions, however, does not use classic overload and specificity principles. The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of resistance training to improve functional outcomes in a patient following hip fracture. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient was a 68-year-old woman who had a comminuted intertrochanteric fracture of the left hip 3 months previously. She used a cane for ambulation, and her walking was limited. The patient received 16 sessions of lower-extremity strengthening exercises, aerobic training on a stationary bicycle, functional training supervised by a physical therapist, and a home stretching program. OUTCOME: The patient's isometric muscle force for involved hip extension, hip abduction, and knee extension improved by 86%, 138%, and 33%, respectively; walking endurance increased by 22.5%; balance improved by 400%; balance confidence increased by 41%; and self-reported ability to perform lower-extremity functional activities increased by 20%. DISCUSSION: The authors believe that some patients can perform comprehensive exercise programs after hip fracture and that properly designed programs can affect patient outcomes beyond observed impairments.     

Spinal cord injury associated with thoracic osteoporotic fracture

This report details a case of sudden neurologic deficit attributable to acute thoracic fractures associated with senile osteoporosis. A 73-yr-old female patient with a history of occasional back pain during the past 4 mos had sudden thoracic vertebral fracture with spinal cord injury. The patient, who had a benign past medical history, had not been evaluated for osteoporosis. Thoracic spine radiographs showed a compression fracture at T8. Thoracic magnetic resonance imaging exposed a compression fracture at T7-T8. She was treated operatively. She was found to have spinal cord injury with American Spinal Injury Association classification C (T7), and she had poor sitting balance. She was discharged in a wheelchair and was administered clean intermittent catheterization every 6 hrs. Six months after discharge, she ambulated with a walker and had spontaneous micturition. Vertebral fractures are a common presentation of senile osteoporosis. The risk of neurologic impairment attributable to vertebral fracture is a rare but potentially severe complication. Besides medical therapy and suitable rehabilitation programs, surgical treatment is an integral part of the management of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.     

Physical therapy management of osteitis pubis in a 10-year-old cricket fast bowler

This case report describes a 10-year-old boy who presented with radiating pain (Visual Analog Scale score of 7.2 cm) down his left groin and was eventually diagnosed to have osteitis pubis. History revealed that he was exceeding the workload guidelines of bowling for a fast bowler. Examination findings were left sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, reduced left internal rotation of the hip, tightness of bilateral hip flexors and poor motor control of the lumbo-pelvic muscles. Physical therapy was aimed at correcting the sacro-iliac joint dysfunction, increasing the hip range of motion and muscle length along with exercises aimed at improving the lumbopelvic stability. The patient had complete resolution of pain by the ninth week and returned to fast bowling without any discomfort.     

The diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of femoral head osteoid osteoma presenting as thigh pain: a case report

Osteoid osteoma, an infrequent but important cause of musculoskeletal pain, is often difficult to diagnose. We present a case of a 31-year-old man who, for 2 years, had left groin pain radiating to the thigh. Symptoms began 1 month after a motorcycle crash in which he sustained only shin abrasions. Initial spine and hip radiographs were negative. Treatment with naproxen provided significant relief, but the symptoms gradually worsened over 6 months. An electromyogram and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the left lower leg were unremarkable. Hip MRI revealed edema without fracture. Prophylactic femoral pinning for impending stress fracture provided no relief. Rheumatologic evaluation revealed normal serologies and synovial fluid. Cyclobenzaprine and sulfasalazine were started and provided mild relief. At presentation to our institution, he was in significant discomfort, but could ride a bicycle for exercise and was completing a home exercise program. He had antalgic gait and globally restricted hip motion with end-range pain. A neurologic examination showed no abnormalities. Hip and pelvis computed tomography scan revealed increased sclerosis of the femoral head, with a central lucency suggestive of osteoid osteoma. This was confirmed by biopsy. Radiofrequency ablation provided significant symptom relief.     

芭蕾舞学员耻骨联合骨软骨炎的CT诊断

目的 分析芭蕾舞学员耻骨联合骨软骨炎的CT表现及诊断价值.方法 对24例芭蕾舞学员行骨盆常规螺旋CT扫描,测量其耻骨联合宽度并观察分析耻骨联合骨质改变及其稳定性.结果 24例芭蕾舞学员耻骨联合间隙2～7 mm,平均4.37 mm,10例可见耻骨联合间隙不同程度增宽.24例均有一侧或双侧耻骨联合骨缘骨质改变;14例存在轻度局限性骨质致密,20例存在锯齿状或鼠咬状骨质破坏,13例存在小片状骨块游离或蒂状小骨块.10例存在耻骨联合稳定性欠佳,休息体伉耻骨联合上缘左右相差2～4 mm.结论 多排螺旋CT对早期诊断耻骨联合骨软骨炎具有重要价值,因此对于指导芭蕾舞学员正确训练具有重要意义.     

老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部的再骨折

背景：老年髋部骨折后发生对侧髋部再骨折数目在逐年增加。目的：阐述老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部再骨折的临床特征,提高对再次对侧髋部骨折的认识。方法：于2001-01/2011-07对老年单侧髋部骨折患者567例和老年再发对侧髋部骨折患者30例,分析再发对侧骨折病例的发生率、骨折类型、年龄、性别、骨密度、骨质疏松、再骨折时间间隔和合并症。结果与结论：单侧髋部骨折与再发对侧髋部骨折患者年龄、性别比例和骨密度值接近。老年髋部骨折患者中,对侧髋部再骨折发生率为5.0%。转子间骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率高于股骨颈骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率（P=0.018）。再发对侧骨折组骨质疏松发生率高于单侧骨折组（P=0.032）。初次骨折后发生对侧骨折的间隔时间平均2.4年,其中1年发生的最多,占40.1%。提示老年髋部骨折患者对侧髋部再骨折发生率较高,对于伴有骨质疏松和合并症的转子间骨折患者在术后1年内应加强预防,防止对侧髋部骨折的再次发生。     

老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部的再骨折

背景:老年髋部骨折后发生对侧髋部再骨折数目在逐年增加。目的:阐述老年髋部骨折后对侧髋部再骨折的临床特征,提高对再次对侧髋部骨折的认识。方法:于2001-01/2011-07对老年单侧髋部骨折患者567例和老年再发对侧髋部骨折患者30例,分析再发对侧骨折病例的发生率、骨折类型、年龄、性别、骨密度、骨质疏松、再骨折时间间隔和合并症。结果与结论:单侧髋部骨折与再发对侧髋部骨折患者年龄、性别比例和骨密度值接近。老年髋部骨折患者中,对侧髋部再骨折发生率为5.0%。转子间骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率高于股骨颈骨折再发对侧髋部骨折率(P=0.018)。再发对侧骨折组骨质疏松发生率高于单侧骨折组(P=0.032)。初次骨折后发生对侧骨折的间隔时间平均2.4年,其中1年发生的最多,占40.1%。提示老年髋部骨折患者对侧髋部再骨折发生率较高,对于伴有骨质疏松和合并症的转子间骨折患者在术后1年内应加强预防,防止对侧髋部骨折的再次发生。     

Ostéomyélite du pubis chez un athlète : à propos d’un cas et revue de la littérature

Osteomyelitis of the pubis has rarely been described. We report a case of pubic osteomyelitis with Staphylococcus aureus at sub periosteal abscess occurred in a custodial football aged 17. It was presented in a table feverish pain in the groin with a left and a functional sensitivity of the symphysis pubis. The diagnosis was based on blood cultures, biology, ultrasound and MRI performed in emergency. The surgical treatment was strongly associated with antibiotic therapy adapted to the germ. The pathogenesis of this entity is probably the location of bacteraemia secondary to a bone redesigned by micro trauma. The treatment is based on prolonged antibiotic therapy. Surgical drainage is required for infections to rebel or medical treatment in case of abscess.