Rupture of the deep femoral artery from blunt trauma

Massive hemorrhage from the deep femoral artery is an uncommon entity in the setting of blunt extremity trauma without femur fracture. A case of deep femoral artery injury causing massive hemorrhage treated by angiographic embolization is reported. In this patient, persistent unexplained hypotension warranted angiographic analysis of a pelvic fracture. Because of a swollen right thigh, the negative pelvic angiogram was extended to include the lower extremity, confirming the diagnosis of a ruptured branch of the deep femoral artery. Bleeding was controlled with embolization that promptly resolved the patient's hemodynamic instability. The salient feature in common with previous reported cases of deep femoral artery injury was hemodynamic instability beyond accountable blood loss. We recommend angiographic analysis with radiological and surgical intervention in the setting of thigh swelling without femur fracture and unexplained hypotension. This management strategy was well tolerated, and the patient received minimal transfusions.