ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bilateral posterior dislocation of the shoulders is rare and may result from a seizure. A 48 year-old HIV-positive man who presented eight weeks after bilateral posterior shoulder dislocation and bilateral fractures of the surgical necks of both humeri is reviewed. He was treated with an algesics and physiotherapy and was able to return to work after 9 months. CONCLUSION: The rarity of this lesion, its late presentation, the importance of a high index of suspicion in making the diagnosis and the fair outcome of non-operative treatment informed this report.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Physical Therapy Modalities , Shoulder Dislocation/rehabilitation , Shoulder Fractures/rehabilitation , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Seizures/complications , Shoulder Dislocation/etiology , Shoulder Fractures/etiology , Time-to-TreatmentABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Removal of orthopaedic implants is often done after complete healing of fractures. Orthopaedic implants are removed for a variety of reasons such as patients' request after fracture union, implant failure and other complications arising from the use of implants. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the indications and complications of removal of orthopaedic implants in our hospital. METHODS: A retrospective study of medical records of all patients who underwent removal of orthopaedic implants used for fracture fixation at a Nigeria teaching hospital during the five year period between 2007 and 2011. Information about age, sex, indications for fracture fixation, indications for removal of implant, types of implants removed, complications of implant removal and its treatment were studied. RESULTS: Thirty patients whose orthopaedic implants had been in place for a mean duration of 12 months before removal were included in the study. 80% of the implants were removed from the femur. Implant failure is the commonest indication for implant removal accounting for 60% of cases. CONCLUSION: Healed fractures and implant failure are the commonest indications for removal of orthopaedic implants in our centre. Implant removal should be advocated when they have failed or become symptomatic. However, appropriate patient selection and adequate surgical technique should be employed to achieve satisfactory outcome.
