Abdominal pain

A 62yr old lady presents to the Emergency Department complaining of a painful right hip after slipping and falling onto the concrete ground on her right side.

She has a past history of a right hip replacement about a month ago for unexplained AVN of the femoral head. And she also has a history of alcoholic pancreatitis for which her last admission was about 15 months ago. Other than that, she is normally fairly fit and well!

On examination, her general condition is stable, she is apyrexial and her other obs are stable. Her right hip is tender to palpate but there is no obvious shortening or external rotating of the limb.

She has an xray that show the following:

HIP RIGHT 0001.jpg HIP RIGHT 0002.jpg

She is admitted placed nil by mouth from midnight, put on IV fluids, prescribed IV morphine for pain relief and scheduled for theatre the next day.

At around midday the next day, she complains of a 2 hour history of worsening abdomnal pain and distention. She claims not to have opened her bowels for the past 2 days and last passed flatus several hours ago. On examination she is apyrexic, with a normal BP, pulse, resps and sats. But her abdomen is obviously distended, very tender and she is guarding!

She has bloods taken that show

  • Hb 123
  • WCC 3.7
  • Neut 6.7
  • Na 140
  • K 3.5
  • Urea 2.3
  • Creatinine 0.06
  • LFT’s Normal
  • Lipase 187 H
  • Amylase 42
  • CRP 29 H
  • An xray of her abdomen shows

    CHEST ABDO 0001.jpg

    Three hours later, the pain has not subsided, she becomes pyrexic at 38.2 deg celsius and generally looks unwell. She has a CT scan as shown below

    CT ABDOMEN 0002.jpg

    CT ABDOMEN 0001.jpg

    So questions

    1. What is the incidence of such type of fractures?
    2. Based on her initial abdominal complaints and presentation prior to the temperature spike, what are your possible differentials?
    3. What does the CT show and how should she be managed?
    4. How should she be managed on the overall taking into account all her problems on this admission?

    One Response to “Abdominal pain”

    1. Severe Acute Cholecytitis with Fracture of the femur. Spiral proximal Shaft.
      Iv hydration.
      IV antibiotics
      Laparascopic Cholecystectomy with possibility of open cholecystectomy
      Stabilise fracture with external splint and or skin traction.
      After recovery from the cholecystectomy 10days later should have repaiur of the fracture with wiring and non weight bearing.

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