Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh complicated with a pseudoaneurysm of the arteria profunda femoris

Abstract

Compartment syndrome of the thigh and a pseudoaneurysm of the arteria profunda femoris are rare entities that usually occur independently. Untreated, both can lead to life-threatening complications making prompt diagnosis and management mandatory.

The diagnosis of an acute compartment syndrome can be suspected clinically, and subsequently needs to be confirmed by intra-compartmental pressure measurement. Treatment should be done by urgent fasciotomy within 6 hours.

A pseudoaneurysm can also be suspected clinically. Various imaging modalities exist to confirm the diagnosis, with duplex ultrasound being the diagnostic test of choice. Treatment is depending on the importance of clinical symptoms and on the size of the pseudoaneurysm.

We present the first case in which an acute compartment syndrome of the thigh was complicated by a pseudoaneurysm of the arteria profunda femoris. The pseudoaneurysm was subsequently complicated by hemorrhage and infection.