Management of Iatrogenic Rupture of Profunda Femoris Artery after Femoral Fracture Fixation with Stent Graft Implantation

Abstract

Vascular injuries with acute or chronic arterial hemorrhage after femoral shaft fractures are a rare but a life-threatening complication. We observed a case of iatrogenic rupture of the profunda femoris artery after the internal fixation of a femoral shaft fracture. The pseudoaneurysm, presenting with painful expansile swelling and hemodynamic instability, together with the rupture was evident on femoral angiography. Endovascular stent graft placement was performed successfully, and there was no sign or symptom at 9 months’ follow-up.

Introduction

Acute or late rupture of arteries after femoral fracture is rare and usually caused by iatrogenic trauma1 or rarely by bone spikes.2,3 The profunda femoris pseudoaneurysms following various orthopedic surgical procedures have previously been described.1 The diagnosis is usually delayed because of nonspecific clinical features such as pain, anemia, fever, and hematoma.1

Management of a profunda femoris artery pseudoaneurysm has changed from surgical intervention4 to radiological intervention1 because of difficult access to the deep muscle compartment of the thigh, where the profunda femoris artery is located.

We herein present a case of a profunda femoris pseudoaneurysm after the fixation of a femoral shaft fracture which was managed via stent grafting.

Case report

An 18-year-old man with a close fracture of the mid shaft of the right femur, sustained in a car accident, underwent an open reduction internal fixation. On physical examination, the distal pulses and sensation of the right leg were normal and there were no signs of nerve or artery damage.

After surgery, the patient was discharged with normal vital signs. On the same day, however, the patient returned to the hospital with a markedly painful, expansible swelling at the medial aspect of his right thigh as well as anemia (Hb = 7). This was initially diagnosed as a post-operative hematoma, so the patient underwent surgical hematoma drainage. The following day, the patient’s clinical condition exacerbated with the painful swelling recurring; he was referred for angiography in the cath lab in conscious state.

Selective arteriography of the superficial artery and profunda femoris artery via the contralateral approach showed a pseudoaneurysm of the right thigh with a maximum diameter of 9 cm, originating from a pinpoint perforation of the distal right profunda femoris artery with a diameter of about 3 mm and jetting of the dye to the pseudoaneurysm (Figure 1). The superficial femoral artery and run-off were normal.

Figure 1.

Arteriography of the superficial and profunda femoris arteries via the contralateral approach. The arrow shows the rupture of the profunda femoris and dye jetting from the rupture before stenting. The pseudoaneurysm of the right thigh, originating from the pinpoint perforation of the distal right profunda femoris artery and dye jetting into the pseudoaneurysm, is shown

Given the potential difficulties of open surgical repair, the patient was candidated for transcatheter stent graft placement, to be performed simultaneously with angiography in the cat lab and without anesthesia. After selective engagement of the right SFA via the contralateral approach with a multi-purpose 6F guiding catheter and administration of 5000 U IV Heparin and 2 gr IV Keflin, a 0.018 v-18 control wire was passed along the right profunda femoris. The diameter of the artery was estimated at 3mm; a 3.25×16 mm Jomed coronary graft stent was, therefore, passed through in order to cover the perforation and it was subsequently inflated at 14 atm. Injection into the right profunda femoris artery showed the sealing and complete cessation of the blood and dye jetting from the profunda into the pseudoaneurysm (Figure 2). In Figure 1, dye is jetting from the rupture but in Figure 2 after stent graft inflation there is no dye jetting. Aspects of the pseudoaneurysm are marked in Figure 2.

Figure 2.

The arteriography of the superficial and profunda femoris arteries via the contralateral approach after stenting. The arteriogram shows complete cessation of the blood and dye jetting from the profunda into the pseudoaneurysm. The arrow shows the aspects of the pseudoaneurysm

Heparin was not reversed, and 325 mg Aspirin and 600 mg Plavix were prescribed stat with Keflin1gr IV QID for 24 hours and Aspirin 80 mg/d and Plavix 75 mg/d for one month. The patient’s general condition and vital signs rapidly improved, and sonography 2 days later was indicative of a reduction in the mass diameter in the right thigh (about 3–4 cm) with the patency of the right profonda femoris artery. After discharge on the fourth day, the patient was prescribed Asprin (80 mg/day) and Plavix (75 mg/day) for one month. At one month’s follow-up, sonography was completely normal and there was no sign or symptom on physical examination.

Discussion

The profunda femoris artery is the largest branch of the femoral artery. Injuries to the proximal part of the profunda femoris artery may cause external hemorrhage because of the artery’s superficial location. But more distal injuries such as injuries due to mid-shaft fracture of the femur may produce silent lesions5 on account of the fact that peripheral pulses are not affected unless the superficial femoral artery is injured or compromised by a compressing hematoma. Pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulae are the probable complications of these silent lesions.6

Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery after the fracture of the femur are rare.3, 7 Detection of pseudoaneurysms tends to be delayed usually because a progressive swelling is painless in most cases,8 unless hemodynamic instability and high clinical suspicion of active bleeding prompts a diagnosis of the rupture of the artery and pseudoaneurysm.7 Pain, hematoma, swelling, occasional fever, unexplained anemia, and hemodynamic instability are non-specific clinical signs.4 It is worthy of note that the thigh compartment syndrome has also been observed after pseudoaneurysm formation.9

Planning the line of management in cases with the rupture of the artery or pseudoaneurysms depends on the length and size of lesions.10 Also in such cases, open surgical repair is rendered difficult by the presence of a hematoma. Moreover, active bleeding reduces access to the deep muscle compartment of the thigh, where the profunda femoris artery is located adjacent to the proximal femoral shaft. A review of the existing medical literature shows that the successful transcatheter treatment of penetrating injuries to the profunda femoris artery has already been reported.11, 12

Conclusion

Profunda femoris artery rupture is a rare iatrogenic complication of femoral shaft fracture fixation. Clinical suspicion can be confirmed by angiography. Be that as it may, whereas the surgical treatment of such cases is usually hampered by the relative inaccessibility of the anatomical compartment involved, transcatheter stent graft placement performed simultaneously with angiography is now the first of choice of management.