Injury to the external iliac artery during hip arthroplasty for old central dislocation

Injury to a major vessel is an uncommon but well recognized and serious complication of total hip arthroplasty. An increased risk of such injury has been reported in rheumatoid patients, in revision surgery, and with the injudicious use of particular instruments, especially the sharp Hohmann retractor. The authors report the case of a patient who sustained a laceration to his external iliac artery during the course of a hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis secondary to old central dislocation. The cause of the injury is discussed and the relevant literature reviewed.