Missed diagnosis of false aneurysm of the superficial femoral artery after closed complex fracture of the distal femur

Abstract

This case report presents a 38-year-old male patient who developed a false aneurysm of the superficial femoral artery after minimally invasive plate internal fixation of a comminuted articular distal femoral fracture sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Two days after surgery, the patient developed pain, non-pulsatile swelling on the medial side of the knee and anemia. After about six weeks, diagnosis of false aneurysm of the superficial femoral artery was confirmed by duplex ultrasound and computed tomographic angiography. A percutaneous endovascular procedure was performed to treat the false aneurysm without evacuating the blood collection.

Keywords: Distal femoral fracture; False aneurysm; Iatrogenic vascular injury; Minimally invasive technique; Superficial femoral artery.