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A 52-year-old Hispanic woman presented to the emergency department, reporting worsening sharp lower right quadrant abdominal pain for 3 days. CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed evidence of inflammation in the peritoneal soft tissues adjacent to an enlarged and thick-walled appendix, an appendicolith, no abscess formation and a slightly thickened caecum consistent with acute appendicitis. During laparoscopic appendectomy, the caecum was noted to be firm, raising suspicion of malignancy. Surgical oncology team was consulted and open laparotomy with right hemicolectomy was performed. Pathology reported that the ileocaecal mass was not a malignancy but was, rather, actinomycosis. The patient was discharged after 10 days of intravenous antibiotics in the hospital, with the diagnosis of abdominal actinomycosis. Although the original clinical and radiological findings in this case were highly suggestive of acute appendicitis, abdominal actinomycosis should be in the differential for right lower quadrant pain as it may be treated non-operatively.

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BACKGROUND The Joint Trauma System database estimates that about 1,200 individuals have sustained a combat-related amputation during the Global War on Terror. Previous retrospective studies have demonstrated that combat-related amputees develop obesity and cardiovascular disease, but the incidence of obesity and associated comorbidities in this population is unknown. The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of obesity in the military amputee population and to compare this with the general population. METHODS This is a retrospective review of 978 patients who sustained a combat-related amputation from 2003 to 2014. Prevalence of obesity and comorbid conditions were determined. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify risk factors for postamputation obesity. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed using obesity as the event of interest. RESULTS A total of 1,233 charts were reviewed with 978 patients included for analysis. The median age of injury was 24 years. Median follow-up time was 8.7 years, ranging from 0.5 years to 16.9 years. The average Injury Severity Score was 23.3. The average body mass index preinjury was 25.6 kg/m2, and the average most recent corrected body mass index was found to be 31.4 kg/m2. Prevalence of comorbidities was higher in the amputee population. Fifty percent of patients who progressed to obesity did so within 1.3 years. CONCLUSION There is a notable prevalence of obesity that develops in the amputee population that is much higher than the general population. We determined that the amputee population is at risk, and these patients should be closely monitored for 1 to 2.5 years following injury. This study provides a targeted period for which monitoring and intervention can be implemented. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Retrospective, basic science, outcomes analysis, level III/IV.