Stable fracture of the pubic rami: a rare cause of life-threatening bleeding from the inferior epigastric artery managed with transcatheter embolization.
Extraperitoneal bleeding from the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) and its branches is a rare complication of blunt pelvic trauma; however, it can result in life-threatening hemorrhage, even in cases of minimally displaced fractures of the pelvic ring. We report the case of a patient who had posttraumatic pelvic hematoma and cardiovascular collapse caused by avulsion of the right pubic branch of the IEA related to undisplaced fractures of the pubic rami. CT scanning followed by angiography showed leakage of contrast from the IEA. Transcatheter arterial embolization was performed to successfully control the hemorrhage. There have been very few previous reports of IEA injury related to stable fractures of the pubic rami successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization.
Loffroy
Romaric
R
Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Imaging, University of Dijon School of Medicine, Bocage Teaching Hospital, Dijon, France. romaric.loffroy@chu-dijon.fr
Yeguiayan
Jean-Michel
JM
Guiu
Boris
B
Cercueil
Jean-Pierre
JP
Krausé
Denis
D
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D019074:Epigastric Arteries / Q000293:injuries*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011630:Pubic Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D012769:Shock / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging