Non-traumatic compression fracture of the thoracic spine following severe hypoglycaemia in a young type 1 diabetic man — a case raport

Abstract

Severe hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetic patients maybe associated with a loss of consciousness andgeneralized convulsions similar to epilepitic seizure.Mucosceletal injuries during hypoglycaemic fits arevery seldom reported. We describe a 30 year old manwith a history type 1 diabetes for 19 years with severehypoglycaemic attack during sleep and a subsequentpain of lower back. X-ray pictures showeda compression fracture of the bodies of T11 and T12.Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at thelumbar spine revealed osteoporosis, which was notrelated to other metabolic diseases. Diabetes-relatedskeletal deficits (osteopenia and osteoporosis) inyoung type 1 diabetic patients are described ina medical literature, concern males more than females,and may contribute to increased risk of non--traumatic compression fractures of the dorsal spine during severe hypoglycaemic attacks.