Key result
Guide pin use during hip nailing linked to iatrogenic lateral circumflex femoral artery injury.
Why the study?
Vascular injuries associated with femoral intertrochanteric fractures are rare but can result in serious complications.
Case Report (n=1)
Guide pin use during hip nailing procedures can cause pseudoaneurysms of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, which can be successfully treated with percutaneous embolization.
May warrant caution with guide pin trajectories in hip nailing; case report leaves open safer techniques and incidence.
Vascular injuries associated with femoral intertrochanteric fractures are rare but can result in serious complications. A case of iatrogenic injury to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery in a patient who underwent surgical fixation of an intertrochanteric femoral fracture is presented. The injury possibly occurred during the creation of the entry point for nail insertion using a guide pin. Clinical symptoms emerged 10 days postoperatively and were successfully managed with percutaneous embolization, without major complications. This case highlights that pseudoaneurysms can develop as a result of guide pin use during hip nailing procedures. Surgeons can avoid this complication by obtaining lateral and anteroposterior views of the hip. Cite this article as: Cho HM, Heo H, Jung MC. Iatrogenic injury to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery during intertrochanteric fracture fixation: A case report of guide pin-related vascular complication. Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc., 2025;59(4):237-240.
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Cho et al. (2025) conducted a case report in Femoral intertrochanteric fracture (n=1). Surgical fixation using a guide pin was evaluated on Iatrogenic injury to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. Guide pin use during hip nailing procedures for intertrochanteric fracture fixation can cause iatrogenic injury to the descending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery.
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