Reference no: EM133645750

Question

A male patient confides in you that he has been using anabolic steroids to improve his appearance (according to his opinion of good looks for men). He knew that there were potential side effects, but he thought he was ready to face that possibility. He was jumping rope at his gym for cardiovascular endurance improvement, and he heard a crack and fell to the ground. He was not able to stand even with help and had to be brought in by ambulance. Predict the most likely cause. Steroid use was irrelevant. This injury is typical of people lifting heavy weights. Increased weight being used for weight lifting overwhelmed the ability of the extensors in the gluteal and hamstring area, which caused the head to snap off the femur. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head due to steroid use is the likely cause. The surgical neck or the actual ball of the femur has broken because the already minimal circulation has been compromised. Increased weight being used for weight lifting has overstressed the tensile strength of the pelvic basin; hence, his acetabular concavity fractured.