J Korean Fract Soc.  2021 Jan;34(1):30-33. 10.12671/jkfs.2021.34.1.30.

Latent Superior Gluteal Artery Injury by Entrapment between the Fragments in Transverse Acetabular Fracture - A Case Report -

• Choi HJ
• Kim BC
• Kwon H
• Jang JH

• KMID: 2511664
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2021.34.1.30

Abstract

The superior gluteal artery is branched from the internal iliac artery and is located outside the pelvis through a greater sciatic notch. This anatomical characteristic makes the artery vulnerable to injury when pelvic fracture involves the sciatic notch. In the case of a superior gluteal artery injury, hemodynamic instability can occur, and appropriate evaluation and management are mandatory in the acute phase. On the other hand, if the initial detection of the injury is neglected due to a masked pattern, it can cause massive bleeding during surgery, resulting in difficult hemostasis. This paper reports an experience of a latent superior gluteal artery injury by entrapment between the fragments of a transverse acetabular fracture.

Keyword

Pelvic fracture; Sciatic notch; Superior gluteal artery injury