Dislocated Artificial Hip as Trigger for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

A 68-year-old woman was referred for an acute anterior myocardial infarction from the emergency medical services. The prehospital ECG (panel A) demonstrated ST-segment elevation in anterolateral leads and ST- segment depression in inferior leads, and the patient was immediately transferred to the catheterisation laboratory. Upon arrival, the patient complained of pain in her right thigh. The paramedics confirmed that the alarm was initially due to suspicion of artificial hip dislocation but once the ambulance arrived, the patient’s pain “moved to the chest”.

Left arterial femoral access was rapidly gained and the right hip was investigated under fluoroscopy. This confirmed artificial hip posterior dislocation (panel B). Coronary angiogram was then shortly performed and demonstrated a thrombotic occlusion of the proximal part of the left anterior descending artery (panels C–E, LAD). The patient was administrated 5,000 UI of liquemine IV and 180 mg of ticagrelor PO. Recanalisation, aspiration’s thrombectomy and direct stenting using a dedicated self-expanding drug-eluting coronary stent (Stentys-DES, 3.5–4.5 / 22 mm) were promptly performed and led to good angiographical result (Panels F–H). After the coronary intervention, the patient was referred to the on-call orthopaedic surgeon who reduced the hip back into proper position using deep sedation (panel I).

This case illustrates that emotional stress is a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic plaque rupture and subsequent cardiovascular event [1].