[Scapular and vertebral osteopathies during acute myoclonic bismuth encephalopathies. Apropos of 8 cases]

Among 59 cases of bismuth encephalopathy, 8 patients were observed to have osteo-articular lesions of the shoulders and dorsal vertebral. These included osteonecrosis of the head of the humerus, which has been reported previously, uni- or bi-lateral fractures of the upper end of the humerus, and vertebral fractures. Severe and repeated myoclonic spasms appear to be capable of causing fractures; microscopic fractures in the spongy bone could explain the osteonecrotic images observed.