Occlusion of the common femoral artery by cement after total hip arthroplasty: a case report.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of vascular injuries after total hip arthroplasty is extremely low. In this report we describe an unusual injury to the common femoral artery.


METHODS
A 59-year-old Caucasian woman presented with rest pain, numbness and cramps in the operated limb after hip replacement. Cement leakage under the transverse ligament had caused occlusion of the common femoral artery necessitating vascular reconstruction. She had a good functional recovery at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case reporting this pathomechanism of vascular lesion to the femoral artery. This case report highlights the potential risk of such a limb-threatening complication, and awareness should lead to prevention by meticulous surgical technique (correct technique of pressurization) or to early detection of the lesion.
Reilingh
Mikel L
ML
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, VU Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Hartemink
Koen J
KJ
Hoksbergen
Arjan Wj
AW
Saouti
Rachid
R