A novel case of a pseudoaneurysm due to thermal injury from a cement hip spacer

Abstract

Vascular injuries sustained during total hip replacements are associated with life- and limb-threatening complications. In the present report, we have described a novel vascular injury of an external iliac artery pseudoaneurysm repaired with an interposition vein graft. The vascular injury had been caused by heat from the curing process of a nearby cement hip spacer. During the curing process of bone cement, in vivo temperatures of ≤70°C can be reached, with such temperatures creating the potential for vascular injury. This case highlights the importance of limiting the exposure of surrounding neurovascular structures to bone cement to reduce the risk of thermal injury.

Keywords

• Aneurysm
• Arthroplasty
• Bone cement
• False
• Femoral artery
• Hip