External iliac artery thrombosis as a result of acetabular fixation through the ilioinguinal approach: a case report.

INTRODUCTION AND

IMPORTANCE

Acetabular fractures mostly occur in young people who are involved in high-energy trauma and they are treated by orthopedic trauma surgeons. Patients with acetabular fractures are at high risk for different kinds of complications. We report a case of postoperative thrombosis of the external iliac artery following fixation surgery performed by an ilioinguinal approach while receiving thromboprophylaxis during admission to the hospital.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old healthy woman presented with a left both-column acetabular fracture and underwent acetabular fixation through the ilioinguinal approach. The patient was receiving antithrombotic prophylaxis medications in the course of treatment.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: During her convalescence, while at the hospital, she was diagnosed with left external iliac artery thrombosis, needing surgical thrombectomy. These severe and rare complications will lead to uncertainty about a commonly used ilioinguinal approach. Postoperative arterial thrombosis may be rare in patients undergoing acetabular fixation surgery but searching for signs and symptoms of this condition is always necessary.

CONCLUSION

It is possible to prevent severe complications by performing a routine measurement of the distal arterial pressure after similar surgeries.