Three-dimensional angio-computed tomography. New technique for imaging the acetabulum and adjacent vessels in a patient with acetabular protrusio.
An arterial injury is an infrequent but potentially lethel occurrence after primary or revision total hip arthroplasty complicated by an acetabular protrusio. Frequently, a plain radiograph and an arteriogram are used to assess the major arteries around the hip. The limitations of these techniques are well documented. A novel technique for documenting the spatial relationships of the external iliac and common femoral arteries to the acetabulum employs an arterial study combined with a three-dimensional computed scan. An angiocatheter is inserted by conventional radiographic technique and a standard computed scan with 3-mm sections is obtained and reconstructed to a three-dimensional image. The scan provides an accurate three-dimensional image of the osseous architecture and arterial images around the acetabulum. Even in the presence of a metallic arthroplastic component, the resolution of the three-dimensional angio-computed scan is sufficient to identify the external iliac artery adjacent to the pelvis.
Gruen
G S
GS
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Mears
D C
DC
Cooperstein
L A
LA
D000077:Acetabulum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*