Pseudoaneurysm of Superficial Femoral Artery Following Proximal Femoral Nail Fixation

ABSTRACT

Pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery is a rare complication following the fixation of the fracture of proximal femur or protruded bony fragment and reports injuring on superficial femoral artery is very rare compared to deep femoral artery complicated by the insertion of distal interlocking screw. The chance of injuring superficial femoral artery may increase by deep insertion of drill bit or the repetitive arterial pulsation on prominent distal interlocking screw tip during the perioperative period. Authors experienced one case of injury on the superficial femoral artery postoperative 42 hours followed by the use of proximal femoral nail advocated by the AO group recently and would like to call attention upon the possibilities of vessel injury complicated with the use of the distal interlocking screw.