Vascular complications following hip replacement

Abstract

The commonest local surgical complications following total hip replacement are loosening of the prosthesis and infection. Local vascular complications are rare but both occlusion of the external iliac artery and false aneurysm formation have been reported (Hirsch et al, 1976; Kroese & Mollerud, 1975). We present two patients with a total hip replacement in whom haemorrhage occurred from a false aneurysm of the external iliac artery. A woman aged 57 suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 33 years. In 1970 she had a left hip replacement which was satisfactory until 1980 when she sustained an acetabular fracture and subsequently had two dislocations of the prosthesis which were reduced. One year later she was admitted with a discharging sinus in her operative scar. Pseudomonas was cultured, and a sinus debridement was performed.