Upper-extremity thrombosis in a patient after biceps tenodesis.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the upper extremity is uncommon compared with DVT of the lower extremity. Exertional DVT has been described in some athletes, especially in the dominant arm of baseball players. It is important for health care professionals to recognize the signs and symptoms of upper-extremity DVT, which can occur after exertion or after surgery of the upper extremity. Superficial venous thrombosis is also very uncommon in the upper extremity. This article describes a case of superficial venous thrombosis that mimicked DVT in the surgical (right) arm of a recreational baseball player after suprapectoral biceps tenodesis for a painful superior labrum anterior-posterior lesion. Although the superficial venous system of the upper arm has frequent connections to the deeper basilar system, it is uncommon for superficial venous thrombosis to occur concurrently with DVT. It is important for clinicians to understand the distinction between superficial venous thrombosis and DVT in the upper extremity because the physical findings, treatment, and prognosis for these 2 entities differ in the following ways: (1) superficial venous thrombosis may be accompanied by a cord, but DVT is associated with more generalized swelling; (2) superficial venous thrombosis requires symptomatic treatment only, whereas DVT requires anticoagulation; and (3) superficial venous thrombosis typically resolves with few sequelae, whereas upper-extremity DVT increases the risk of future DVT.

Increased fracture risk and low bone mineral density in patients with loeys-dietz syndrome.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a recently recognized connective tissue disorder with widespread systemic involvement. Little is known about its skeletal phenotype. Our goal was to investigate the risk of fracture and incidence of low bone mineral density in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome. We performed a cross-sectional, descriptive, survey-based study with subsequent chart review from July 2011 to April 2012. Fifty-seven patients (26 men, 31 women) with Loeys-Dietz syndrome confirmed by genetic testing completed the survey (average age, 25.3 years; range, 0.9-79.6 years). There were a total of 51 fractures (33 patients): 35 fractures in the upper extremities, 14 in the lower extremities, and two in the spine. Fourteen patients (24.6%) reported two or more fractures. There was a 50% risk of fracture by age 14 years. The incidence of any fracture in this cohort was 3.86 per 100 person-years. Seventeen patients had dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans available for review, 11 (64.7%) of whom had at least one fracture. Thirteen included lumbar spine absorptiometry reports; eight (61.5%) indicated low or very low bone mineral density. In the left hip, ten of 14 participants (71.4%) had low or very low bone mineral density. In the left femoral neck, nine of 13 participants (69.2%) had low or very low bone mineral density. The lowest Z- and T-scores were not associated with an increased number of fractures. Patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome have a high risk of fracture and a high incidence of low bone mineral density.