1/9. The injured coach.The patient in this case was diagnosed as having an epidural hematoma (shown in x-ray at right). This results from hemorrhage between the dura mater and the skull. The hemorrhage may result from a traumatic insult to the side of the head, which can fracture the temporal bone and lacerate the middle meningeal artery. Since the hemorrhage is arterial in nature, the patient may deteriorate quickly. These patients may present with what is referred to as a "lucid interval." The patient typically has a significant blow to the head that results in a short period of unconsciousness. They then regain consciousness at a time that frequently coincides with the arrival of EMS. Once conscious, they are in a period known as the lucid interval. They will still have a headache, but may otherwise be acting normally and show no other physical findings on examination. Many such patients refuse treatment and transport. [table: see text] Inside the skull, however, the problem will grow. Broken arterial vessels are bleeding, causing an expanding hematoma. The patient typically will soon complain of a severe headache along with other associated complaints, such as nausea/vomiting, then will lose consciousness again and/or have a seizure. Initial physical findings may include contralateral weakness and a decreased Glasgow coma score. As the hematoma expands, cerebral herniation may occur, compressing the third cranial nerve, which presents as a "blown pupil." EMS providers should have a high suspicion of injuries that affect the side of the head and the base of the skull. It is important to not only assess such injuries, but also the mechanism of injury, and to know the complications or later presentation that can arise from such injuries. Given that this patient was alert, oriented, not obviously intoxicated, and accompanied by his wife, the providers in this case would have had no choice but to abide by a refusal of treatment and transport. However, that could lead to serious complications, such as ongoing minor neurological deficits, later on. If this is the case, contacting medical control should be the priority.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/9. Crohn's disease in a patient with acute spinal cord injury: a case report of diagnostic challenges in the rehabilitation setting.diagnosis of the abdominal emergency in tetraplegic and high paraplegic patients remains challenging. Classic peritoneal signs, such as a rigid abdomen, rebounding, guarding, and Murphy's sign may be absent, whereas subtle physical, laboratory, or radiologic abnormalities may be the only evidence for an acute abdomen. Our report describes the course of a 70-year-old man with C5 American Spinal Injury association class A tetraplegia who developed a perforated cecum secondary to Crohn's disease. We review the visceral and somatic sensory pathways for abdominal pain with emphasis on the challenges in assessing the acute abdomen in a patient with spinal cord injury (SCI). Recommendations for the assessment of the acute abdomen in an individual with SCI will be provided. This is the first reported case of Crohn's disease in an individual with an acute SCI. It shows the importance of maintaining high clinical suspicion for unexpected intraabdominal processes that may lead to significant morbidity and mortality if left undiagnosed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/9. Spontaneous recovery from a spinal epidural hematoma with atypical presentation in a nonagenarian.PURPOSE: Spinal epidural hematoma following epidural anesthesia is extraordinarily rare in association with low-dose sc heparin, and the prognosis for neurologic recovery without rapid surgical decompression poor. We report a case of spinal epidural hematoma in a nonagenarian who received low-dose sc unfractionated heparin postoperatively in accordance with standard guidelines, presented with no back pain, and made full neurologic recovery without surgical intervention. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 90-yr-old female with gastric adenocarcinoma presented for subtotal gastrectomy. Her past medical history and physical examination were largely unremarkable and she had no bleeding diathesis. She took no medications other than preoperative ranitidine, and had a normal coagulation profile. A thoracic epidural catheter was placed uneventfully before induction of general anesthesia. Postoperatively, low-dose sc unfractionated heparin was started 12 hr after the epidural catheter insertion. On postoperative day two, the patient developed flaccid lower extremity paralysis and paresthesia without back pain. Her coagulation profile remained normal. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging showed a large epidural hematoma extending from T3 to T11. With conservative treatment and no surgery, the patient slowly made full neurologic recovery and was discharged home on postoperative day 56. CONCLUSION: Complete neurologic recovery from flaccid paralysis following spinal epidural hematoma occurred without surgical decompression in a nonagenarian. Low-dose sc heparin may be a greater risk factor for spinal epidural hematoma than previously assumed, and the absence of back pain does not rule out this diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.9516723053469keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/9. A thoracolumbar epidural hematoma simulating a disc syndrome.Epidural hematoma, a rare entity, may occur spontaneously, although a factor such as anticoagulation therapy is more frequently the cause. Epidural hematomas most commonly manifest with pain and neurologic deficit. Only six cases of lumbar hematoma simulating a herniated disc syndrome have been reported in the literature. In this article a thorough knowledge of the natural history and the differential diagnosis of disc disease as well as the importance of a complete physical examination are emphasized. Sagittal MRI imaging, as shown here, has proved to be an important adjunct in the evaluation of multilevel spinal disorders.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.9516723053469keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/9. Minor head injury.The evaluation and treatment of minor head injuries are reviewed, with particular emphasis on those problems of head injury commonly seen by family physicians. Clinical history, physical examination, and radiologic studies that are of value in diagnosing minor head injuries are highlighted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.9516723053469keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/9. New observations in scintigraphy of subdural and extradural hematomas.Static radionuclide images of subacute subdural hematomas demonstrate significant variations in findings over a 3-hr period in the same patient. The lesion can appear, disappear, and reconstitute in an entirely different pattern. This transformation has not appeared in extradural hematomas, and may provide a differential diagnostic sign. In patients with a clinical history or physical findings suspicious for these intracranial hematomas, immediate and sequential delayed static imaging is recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/9. skull infarction and epidural hematomas in a patient with sickle cell anemia.PURPOSE: Epidural hematomas are unusual manifestations of sickling disorders. We report a patient with sickle cell anemia and multiple skull infarctions associated with epidural hematomas. The association of skull infarctions and epidural hematomas in sickling hemoglobinopathies is reviewed. patients AND methods: A 14-year-old boy with hemoglobin SS presented with lower back pain, left hip pain, headache, and fever. A bone scan was used to evaluate the patient for possible osteomyelitis. Head computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were employed to delineate intracranial pathology. RESULTS: The bone scan showed multiple areas of decreased uptake in the skull consistent with acute infarction before abnormalities were present on physical examination. CT scan showed a bony contour deformity of the right frontal bone, suggestive of infarction. A right frontal extra-axial collection of blood was also observed below the bony abnormality. MRI further delineated bilateral frontal and left parietal collections adjacent to the bony abnormalities consistent with subacute epidural hematomas. CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the need to recognize skull infarctions and epidural hematomas as rare but potential complications of sickle cell disease. The diagnosis was facilitated by MRI, which has not been used in previous cases of skull infarctions. Moreover, our patient was successfully managed without surgical intervention.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4.9516723053469keywords = physical examination, physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/9. Delayed cervical epidural hemorrhage associated with silastic dural implant: case report.OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: This is the first report of delayed cervical epidural hemorrhage caused by an onlay silastic graft placed over the dura after laminectomy. There are several reports of intracranial hemorrhage associated with silastic implants in the literature. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old woman suddenly developed severe neck pain and quadriplegia during sexual intercourse. A C5-C7 laminectomy had been performed 17 years earlier for cervical stenosis. INTERVENTION: magnetic resonance imaging showed an epidural mass compressing the cord at the level of the previous laminectomy. laminectomy was performed within 5 hours of symptom onset. Postoperatively, the patient regained leg strength. After 2 months of physical therapy, she had minimal residual leg rigidity and returned to work. TECHNIQUE: At surgery, the cervical cord was compressed by a solid fibrous scar surrounding a silastic onlay graft and the dura. An epidural hematoma was beneath the silastic implant. The dense scar tissue, hematoma, and silastic implant were removed. CONCLUSION: Bleeding associated with silastic sheets starts with movement of this nonadherent implant. The movement disrupts the underlying fine vessels on the surface of an encasing connective tissue membrane. Overgrowth of this membrane can cause mass effect and simulate a tumor, even without associated bleeding, within weeks. Delayed hemorrhage is more common. We recommend removal of these implants electively, especially if a thick membrane surrounding the dura is detected with postcontrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/9. Spontaneous epidural hematoma as a cause of sciatic pain in a schoolboy.A previously healthy 13-year-old boy began to manifest radiating pain in his left leg after heavy physical exertion during judo training. He also had a sensation of numbness in his left buttock and leg. Initially, the patient was treated conservatively with a clinical diagnosis of disc herniation. However, following 3 months of conservative treatment, there was no relief of pain. magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated an epidural mass causing compression of the dural sac at the L4-L5 disc level. During surgery, the L5 nerve root was found to be severely compressed in the spinal canal because of a chronic epidural hematoma. Following microsurgical removal of this hematoid mass, the patient had a good recovery. Spontaneous epidural hematomas in the lumbar region are rare, and only a few cases presenting with features simulating those caused by a disc herniation have been reported. Our patient represents the first such case described in a child.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = physical (Clic here for more details about this article) |