BMJ case reports
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Bilateral simultaneous fracture dislocation of the talus is a very rare injury. It occurs usually following high-velocity injuries. We report a 45-year-old man who presented with bilateral talar fracture dislocation following a heavy stone falling on him. ⋯ His ankle range of movements were restricted bilaterally. Radiographs revealed bilateral avascular necrosis with right side showing complete collapse. We present this case for its rare presentation of bilateral talar fracture dislocation with bilateral avascular necrosis with sequential radiographs.
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Case Reports
Severe low back pain as the initial symptom of venous thrombosis of the inferior vena cava.
A 45-year-old previously well male truck driver presented to the emergency department with severe low back pain; lumbosacral X-ray was normal and he was given analgaesics and discharged. The following day, he presented to the emergency department again, his pain had not responded to the analgaesics; this time he also presented with massive bilateral swelling of lower limbs and left testicle that started 3 h earlier. The pain was severe, dull and interfered with the patient's ability to walk. An urgent workup revealed extensive thrombosis of the inferior vena cava.
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A 65-year-old man was referred to the respiratory clinic with recurrent chest infections on a background of stage 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. On examination, there was wheeze bilaterally more marked on the left lower lobe. ⋯ Initially, on flexible bronchoscopy, a hard mass was found and multiple biopsies were positive for actinomycosis. Subsequent rigid bronchoscopy was undertaken and a set of dentures were removed from the airway.
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Hypotension is one of the most common complications of spinal anaesthesia (SA). The intraoperative drop in the blood pressure is clearly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The patient developed multiple territory watershed infarcts and she eventually died from aspiration pneumonia 14 days after hospitalisation. The case highlights the risk of hypotension complicating SA.
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A 45 year-old woman who presented with non-specific neck and shoulder pain, was found to have mild hypercalcaemia, markedly elevated parathyroid hormone levels, and an irregular parathyroid gland on imaging. The patient underwent a parathyroidectomy and the pathology report came back positive for parathyroid carcinoma with muscular invasion. ⋯ Repeat imaging on this patient showed residual cancer present, so the patient underwent a second surgery with radical neck dissection and has since been doing very well postoperatively. Diagnosis and treatment is challenging and it is critical to continuously follow-up for recurrent disease.