INTRODUCTION: We describe an alternative presentation of 2 cases of femur fractures with pseudoaneurysms of the profunda femoris artery. CLINICAL PICTURE: In both cases, there is a recurrent triad of: (1) thigh swelling, (2) bleeding from the fasciotomy wound, and (3) anaemia with a falling haemoglobin trend. TREATMENT: Surgical exploration is often not diagnostic or therapeutic. Angiography can accurately diagnose the presence of a pseudoaneurysm and intervention with coil embolisation is effective in arresting further bleeding. OUTCOME: Both cases show good outcome following coil embolisation. CONCLUSION: Recognition of this triad is necessary to ensure early accurate diagnosis so that proper treatment is rendered to prevent further recurrent bleeds.
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Chong et al. (2004) studied this question.
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