BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries stemming from forceful muscular contractions during seizures have been documented in the literature. Reports of multiple seizure-induced spinal fractures, in the absence of external trauma and without risk factors for fracture, are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old male, newly diagnosed with epilepsy, presented to a chiropractic clinic with the complaint of mid-thoracic pain beginning after a tonic-clonic seizure with no associated external trauma. Radiographs revealed the impression of five new vertebral compression fractures from T4 to T8. DISCUSSION: This report highlights the importance of a complete history and examination of patients with a history of tonic-clonic seizures and back pain, especially when considering spinal adjustments. SUMMARY: This case report presents an argument that a tonic-clonic seizure, in the absence of external trauma or significant risk factors for fracture, resulted in multiple vertebral compression fractures.
BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries stemming from forceful muscular contractions during seizures have been documented in the literature. Reports of multiple seizure-induced spinal fractures, in the absence of external trauma and without risk factors for fracture, are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old male, newly diagnosed with epilepsy, presented to a chiropractic clinic with the complaint of mid-thoracic pain beginning after a tonic-clonic seizure with no associated external trauma. Radiographs revealed the impression of five new vertebral compression fractures from T4 to T8. DISCUSSION: This report highlights the importance of a complete history and examination of patients with a history of tonic-clonic seizures and back pain, especially when considering spinal adjustments. SUMMARY: This case report presents an argument that a tonic-clonic seizure, in the absence of external trauma or significant risk factors for fracture, resulted in multiple vertebral compression fractures.
Entities:
Keywords:
back pain; chiropractic; compression fracture; seizure; spinal manipulation; thoracic
Authors: Stephen I Esses; Robert McGuire; John Jenkins; Joel Finkelstein; Eric Woodard; William C Watters; Michael J Goldberg; Michael Keith; Charles M Turkelson; Janet L Wies; Patrick Sluka; Kevin M Boyer; Kristin Hitchcock Journal: J Am Acad Orthop Surg Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 3.020