Abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Differential diagnosis of a patient with low back and toe pain

Low back pain is one of the most commonly treated conditions by outpatient orthopedic physical therapists. The management of low back pain is also responsible for a large economic burden in the United States and internationally, which highlights one of the many reasons why appropriate medical screening and referral is important in the physical therapy setting. The purpose of this case report is to describe the successful physical therapist screening and subsequent medical differential diagnosis of a 36- year-old male with chronic lower back and toe pain. Initial physical therapy evaluation supported a diagnosis of mechanical low back pain, but symptom progression through two treatment sessions indicated that a non-mechanical source of pain was instead the likely cause of the patient's symptoms. The referring physician was contacted by the physical therapist and the patient was scheduled for further medical examination. A consult to rheumatology was placed and through compilation of clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, a diagnosis of human leukocyte antigen B-27-positive spondyloarthropathy was made. Even with physician referral, it is imperative for clinicians to be proficient in screening for non-mechanical low back pain that may mimic a musculoskeletal origin of symptoms.

Differential diagnosis of a patient referred to physical therapy with low back pain: abdominal aortic aneurysm

STUDY DESIGN

Resident's case problem.

BACKGROUND

A 38-year-old man with a history of chronic episodic low back pain (LBP) was referred to physical therapy by his physician.

DIAGNOSIS

Concerns ascertained from the patient's history included an insidious onset of unrelenting, deep, boring pain that was constant, irrespective of movements or posture changes, or time of day. In addition, the patient reported night pain and the inability to find relief in recumbent positions. The primary warning signs associated with the physical examination were unremarkable examination of the lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip regions (symptoms not altered and minimal impairments detected), and a strong nontender, palpable pulse noted over the left lateral lumbar region, with the patient prone, and over the midline and left upper/lower abdominal quadrants, with the patient supine. Suspicion of the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm led the therapist to immediately refer the patient to an allopathic physician. The subsequent abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography scanning revealed a 10-cm-diameter abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient was immediately hospitalized and underwent surgical repair within two days.

DISCUSSION

LBP is the most frequent condition for patients seeking care from physical therapists in outpatient settings. The challenge for clinicians is to recognize patients in whom LBP may be related to underlying pathological conditions. A prompt referral of patients presenting with suspicious findings to the appropriate physician may lead to a more timely diagnosis, with the goal of minimizing or preventing morbidity and mortality.

[Thoracic aorta aneurysm as a complication after transpedicular stabilization of the thoracic vertebral column--a case study]

INTRODUCTION

Incorrectly positioned transpedicular stabilization accounts for 4 to 30% of the complications occurring after vertebral column stabilization operations.

OBSERVATIONS

We describe a specific complication following transpedicular stabilization of TH5-TH7, performed due to fracture of the TH6 vertebra. Given that the patient complained of pain in the thoracic vertebrae, a CT scan of the TH5-TH7 region was performed and revealed that the transpedicular stabilization was incorrectly located; it was immediately adjacent to the thoracic aorta and had led to the formation of a false aneurysm. The stabilization was removed and the patient is under the constant supervision of a vascular surgeon.

CONCLUSIONS

Thoracic aorta false aneurysm is a rare complication after vertebral column stabilization. However, there is a high risk of the aorta wall damage during stabilization removal.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV and multiple aortic aneurysms--a case report

Beside atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysms can be part of the clinical spectrum of many systemic diseases, including infectious, inflammatory, genetic and, less often, congenital disorders. A 48-year-old white man presented with multiple large aneurysms of the aorta and its main branches. Medical history was unremarkable except for the presence of a softened abdominal mass since he was 28 years old. On the physical examination, an arterial murmur was heard over the left carotid artery and a palpable mass was noted in the whole right side of the abdomen. No skin or joint abnormalities were noted. Aortography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance angiography showed multiple large aneurysms of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta. Aneurysms of the innominate, left subclavian, and carotid arteries were also seen. This case resembles those previously reported, in which multiple aortic aneurysms were associated with abnormalities of the type III procollagen gene (COL3A1). Although the classic stigmas of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV were lacking, this genetic disease may be the cause of the multiple aneurysms in this patient.