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Rupture of External Iliac Artery during Total Hip Arthroplasty after Rotational Acetabular Osteotomy: A Case Report
Masahiro Suzuki1, Takashi Mikami1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Eniwa Hospital, Eniwa, Hokkaido, Japan.
Introduction:
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is widely accepted as a safe and effective procedure to relieve hip pain and restore function, but complications can lead to a poor outcome. Although major vascular injuries during THA are rare, when they do occur, massive bleeding may threaten life.
Case Report:
We describe a case of a 72-year-old woman who underwent THA after rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO). When the soft tissue in the acetabular fossa was dissected with electrocautery, massive pulsatile bleeding suddenly occurred. A blood transfusion and metal stent graft repair saved her life. We assume that the cause of the arterial injury was a bone defect of the acetabulum and relocation of the external iliac artery after RAO.
Conclusion:
To avoid arterial injury during THA, pre-operative three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography to locate the intrapelvic vessels around the acetabulum is recommended in cases with complex hip anatomy.
