acetabular screw in close proximity to the posterior branch of the internal iliac artery in revision hip surgery with intrapelvic migration of acetabular component: preoperative placement of a fogarty catheter in the internal iliac artery (case report)

Revision of an intrapelvic migration of the acetabular component of a total hip is a challenging surgery due to the risk of injury to the pelvic viscera. the primary concern is vascular injury due to the risk of mortality and limb loss. the researchers present one case where the acetabular screw was near the posterior branch of the internal iliac artery. a fogarty catheter was placed in the internal iliac artery preoperatively, and the amount of fluid to inflate the catheter and completely block the artery was determined. the catheter was kept in a deflated condition. the hip reconstruction was performed, and there was no incidence of vascular injury during the procedure; hence, the fogarty catheter was removed postsurgery. the placement of a fogarty catheter in the at-risk vessel provides the freedom to proceed with the hip reconstruction through the standard approach. in case of an inadvertent event of a vascular injury, it can be inflated with the predetermined amount of saline to check the bleeding until the vascular surgeons take over the case.