Lateral Femoral Circumflex Artery Injury during Closed Reduction using a Bone Hook in an Unstable ntertrochanteric Hip Fracture: A Case Report

Abstract

The frequency of vascular injury in intertrochanteric fractures has increased over many years. The most common cases involve the deep femoral artery and its branches, and in 89% of cases, vascular injury symptoms are delayed by 24 hours or more. The causes of vascular injury include drilling injury, long screw insertion, damage by sharp edges of a K-wire or retractor, and bone spike damage. Vascular injury may result in delayed complications such as pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, and/or distal necrosis of affected vessels. The prevention of vascular injury at the time of hip fracture surgery is not always possible. However, the operator must always be aware of the possibility of vessel injury during and after surgery, depending on the patient's condition and fracture pattern, and the use of a bone hook for reduction requires caution. When vascular injury occurs, the potential for serious complications might be reduced by rapid screening and appropriate treatment.