[Peroperative vascular accidents during orthopedic surgery. Apropos of 55 cases]

The functional or vital prognosis may be affected by the rare vascular accidents resulting from orthopedic operations. During a 10 year period (1970-1980), 55 vascular lesions were observed in 40 patients, and were either arterial (40 cases) or venous (15 cases) in type. Vascular injuries in 9 cases were due to spinal operations (cervical, lumbosacral or herniated disc arthrodesis), in 7 cases to shoulder operations (recurrent dislocation, excision of first rib), in 9 cases to hip surgery (prosthesis, plate and screws, fractured acetabulum), and in 15 cases to operations on the lower limbs (osteosynthesis of femur or tibia, meniscus operations, etc.). Emergency operation was necessary in 18 cases because of a hemorrhagic or ischemic syndrome, all other cases except three requiring secondary surgery for false aneurysms, arteriovenous fistulae, or residual ischemia. Four patients (10%) died, three following hip surgery, and 8 developed complications. The frequency, mechanism, diagnostic and therapy of these lesions are discussed.