Fragility fracture of the fourth rib in a patient with a cardiac pacemaker: an uncommon case.
Arch Osteoporos
; 16(1): 129, 2021 09 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1471836
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
In patients with a cardiac pacemaker, pocket-related complications such as nerve impairment or bone fractures are infrequent. We present a man with a fracture of the 4th rib several months after pacemaker implantation. CASE PRESENTATION A 74-year-old man, with a left prepectoral pacemaker implanted 13 months ago, presented complaining of chest pain. The pain started after a sudden trunk rotation and right arm flexion movement with a crack. There was tenderness to palpation and crepitation over the left upper ribs. Computed tomography identified a non-displaced fracture line in the anterior aspect of the left 4th rib. After kinesiotaping and activity restriction, pain alleviated.CONCLUSION:
Pacemaker implantation might have caused shoulder dysfunction and pectoral tightness resulting in reduced flexibility of the trunk. Consequently, a reaching motion of the arm with a trunk rotation might have directed rotational force vectors towards the osteopenic left 4th rib causing a fragility fracture. In elderly with a pacemaker, osteopenia and concomitant sarcopenia may create a predisposition to this atypical complication.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pacemaker, Artificial
/
Rib Fractures
Type of study:
Case report
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Arch Osteoporos
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S11657-021-00999-2
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