Video: Man can't stop laughing after hip surgery
(CBS News) A Dutch man who underwent hip surgery reportedly can't stop bursting into laughter almost every time he talks, The Daily Mail reports, much to the chagrin of his wife.
Huug Bosse underwent hip surgery two years ago and now can't stop cracking up no matter how hard he tries.
"It appears that due to the operation, due to the anesthesia, he was laughing more," Bosse's wife told the Dutch TV show Man Bijt Hond. "When you are having a discussion and all he does is laughing, then it gets annoying."
It's not all smiles for Bosee, however. Once in awhile when he hears the Dutch national anthem, he bursts into tears.
Can this bizarre behavior be explained by a medical condition?
Dr. Erik Pioro, a neurologist at The Cleveland Clinic who is not involved in the man's care told HealthPop in an email, that this case looks like a "classic occurrence" of a condition called pseudobulbar affect, or PBA. PBA is a neurological disorder that causes inappropriate emotional outbursts. People with multiple sclerosis or a traumatic brain injury may experience the condition.
Pioro says the condition is characterized by explosive laughter and a "contrary valence," like crying during a particular emotional response.
"It would be fascinating to check his brain MRI for evidence of a stroke," or other brain trauma, Pioro said.
If the condition is causing this effect, there may be hope. In 2010, the drug Nuedexta was FDA-approved for treating PBA, the first drug of its kind, WebMD reported.
Click here to see Huug Bosee and his unique condition (Click "CC" for captions.)
