Fecal Fistula Communicating with a Femur Shaft Fracture Secondary to a Malpositioned Suprapubic Catheter: A Case Report
Unusual clinical course, Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment, Diagnostic / therapeutic accidents, Clinical situation which can not be reproduced for ethical reasons
Uday Guled, Vijay G. Goni, Arjun R.H. Honnurappa, Rakesh John, Harsha Vardhana, Gaurav Sharma, Kirubakaran S. Pattabhiraman
Department of Orthopaedics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
Am J Case Rep 2015; 16:711-714
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.894516
Available online:
Published: 2015-10-06
BACKGROUND:
Suprapubic catheter (SPC) insertion is a common urological procedure. Though considered a simple and safe procedure, complications are bound to occur if proper precautions are not taken during the procedure. The reported complications include gross hematuria, post-obstruction diuresis, insertion site skin-related complications, and intra-abdominal visceral injuries. Iatrogenic bowel injuries have been reported to occur as a complication in around 2.5% of cases.
CASE REPORT:
We report a very rare case of a bowel injury due to improper insertion of a SPC leading to fecal matter tracking along the muscle planes to reach the fracture site of the femur shaft and formation of an external fecal fistula along the lateral aspect of thigh, which according to us is the first reported case in the literature.
CONCLUSIONS:
This case report shows the devastating complication of a technically simple procedure done in an improper manner and successful management of a rare case of femur fracture with communicating fecal fistula. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the importance of taking proper precautions before the procedure.
Keywords: Colon - injuries, Adolescent, Cutaneous Fistula - etiology, Equipment Failure, Feces, Femoral Fractures - diagnosis, Intestinal Fistula - etiology, Intestinal Perforation - radiography, Radiography, Abdominal, Thigh, Urinary Catheters - adverse effects
