BackgroundBilateral 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.Case presentationA 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.ConclusionBilateral 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.
Empyema necessitans is a rare presentation of tuberculous infection, commonly encountered in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis can be challenging due to the paucibacillary nature of the condition and nonspecific symptoms. Identifying the organism in culture is the gold standard method of diagnosis. We describe a patient with chronic kidney disease, who developed empyema necessitans due to interruption of antituberculous therapy. Initially, he was started on antituberculous therapy based on a clinical diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculous infection; this resulted in Stevens–Johnson syndrome needing a long course of steroid therapy. He later presented with a painful chest lump and was diagnosed as empyema necessitans. Finding the etiology for this rare presentation lead to a diagnostic dilemma, finally confirming the TB infection from the culture. This case highlights the importance of being aware of unusual complications of tuberculous infection in immunocompromised settings.
BackgroundLeptospirosis is the most widespread zoonosis in the world. Cardiac involvement is a frequent complication of leptospirosis although significant left ventricular dysfunction is rare. We report a case of fatal leptospira myocarditis leading to cardiogenic shock on the second day of illness. This early occurrence of myocarditis is not previously reported.Case presentationA 36-yr-old previously healthy Sri Lankan male who takes care of a horse presented to the medical casualty ward with a one day history of fever, arthralgia and severe myalgia. He developed hypotension on the second day of illness. Electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia with ST segment depression in lateral leads which evolved in to rapid atrial fibrillation in the subsequent days. 2D echocardiogram showed dilated cardiac chambers with severe global hypokinesia and an ejection fraction of 20%. His renal and liver functions were within normal limits. He developed multi organ dysfunction syndrome and refractory shock, later in the course of illness.Leptospirosis was confirmed by positive leptospira IgM and negative IgG. Patient died on the fifth day of illness despite optimal medical treatment with intravenous penicillin, meropenem, levofloxacin, inotropes and supportive care in the intensive care unit.ConclusionsWe describe a rare and unusual early complication of leptospirosis which has not been reported before. It is important to bear in mind that leptospirosis could present as myocarditis during the early phase of illness.
BackgroundClozapine is a second generation antipsychotic used to treat resistant schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses. Leucopenia or agranulocytosis is a rare side effect of this drug. Pancytopenia is an extremely rare side effect of clozapine and literature review showed only one such case in where the pancytopenia developed several months after starting clozapine together with other antipsychotic drugs.Case presentationA 26-year-old Sri Lankan male was admitted with fever for 3 days. Apart from generalized body aches there were no other significant symptoms. His blood counts showed pancytopenia. He was being treated for a resistant schizophrenia and clozapine was started only 4 weeks before. Common causes for pancytopenia were excluded, and a diagnosis of clozapine induced pancytopenia was made. He was managed in the intensive care unit with broad spectrum antibiotics, antifungals and granulocyte colony stimulating factors. He made a complete recovery after 4 weeks.ConclusionThis is a rare and probably the first reported case of early onset clozapine induced pancytopenia complicated by severe sepsis recovering completely.
Background: Hump-nosed viper bite, the commonest venomous snake bite in Sri Lanka, is associated with significant morbidity. Specific anti-venom is not available for hump-nosed viper envenomation which is usually managed with supportive treatment. Pulmonary haemorrhage is an unusual manifestation of hump-nosed viper bite. Here we present a case of hump-nosed viper envenomation which complicated by pulmonary haemorrhage and was successfully treated with systemic steroids. To the best of our knowledge, it has not been reported in the literature before.Case presentation: A previously healthy 55-year-old man presented to the local hospital 18 h after a hump-nosed viper bite. He developed bilateral severe pulmonary haemorrhages, evidenced by rapid desaturation which needed intubation and mechanical ventilation, bleeding from the endotracheal tube and bilateral alveolar shadows in a chest x-ray. He had no other bleeding manifestations. Because of the life-threatening situation, he was treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy. There was a rapid improvement of hypoxia with a resolution of x-ray changes. He was successfully weaned off from the ventilation after 24 h. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of suspecting pulmonary haemorrhage in a patient who develops desaturation and alveolar shadow following hump-nosed viper bite even in the absence of other bleeding manifestation. Early and timely treatment with systemic steroid can be lifesaving in such patients.
Streptococcus bovis endocarditis has 18%–62% association with colonic neoplasms with multivalvular involvement and affects mainly elderly males leading to severe cardiac dysfunction, septic embolization, and neurological complications. The aortic valve is the commonest valve to be affected followed by aortic and mitral valves together. However, involvement of tricuspid valve is extremely rare. There are no reported cases of Streptococcus bovis endocarditis affecting the tricuspid valve in the presence of ventricular septal defect with left to right shunt. We report the case of a 25-year-old female with ventricular septal defect who was diagnosed to have tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by Streptococcus bovis. Her detailed colonoscopy, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, liver biochemistry, and ultrasound scan of the abdomen were normal. She made a very good recovery with six weeks of intravenous antibiotics. This is the first case of tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by Streptococcus bovis in association with ventricular septal defect without any colonic lesions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.