The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization

Background: In the setting of severe trauma, placement of external fixation is an expedient and minimally invasive method of temporarily stabilizing fractures. However, the procedure is not without complications. Most complications are related to pins insertion. Case report: We report a case of a 17...

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Main Authors: Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff, Ismail Mansor, Nur Akmal, Mohd Yusof, Nazri, Sulong, Ahmad Fadzli, Ismail, Raffael, Noor Rahin, Mohd. Shahidan, Ayeop, Mohd Adham Syah, Othman, Ahmad Faidzal
Format: Conference or Workshop Item
Language:English
English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/1/Program_Book_%28Poster_Presentation%29.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/2/MOA2014_-_P11B_-_External_Fixator_Hazard.pdf
id iium-36814
recordtype eprints
spelling iium-368142014-06-03T03:45:12Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/ The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff Ismail Mansor, Nur Akmal Mohd Yusof, Nazri Sulong, Ahmad Fadzli Ismail, Raffael Noor Rahin, Mohd. Shahidan Ayeop, Mohd Adham Syah Othman, Ahmad Faidzal RD701 Orthopedics RD92 Wounds and injuries Background: In the setting of severe trauma, placement of external fixation is an expedient and minimally invasive method of temporarily stabilizing fractures. However, the procedure is not without complications. Most complications are related to pins insertion. Case report: We report a case of a 17-year-old man who sustained an open tibial fracture type IIIC. The posterior tibialis pulse of the affected lower limb was not detectable on initial evaluation. Intra-operative exploration revealed an injured posterior tibialis artery with a 3-cm substance loss at the level of the fracture. The dorsalis pedis artery remained palpable and the toes were pink. Ligation of the posterior tibialis artery was decided by the vascular team. A unilateral external fixator was applied to stabilize the fracture. Pins were inserted within the anatomic safe zones for pin placements. However, immediately after surgery, the toes were noted to be pale and the dorsalis pedis artery was no longer detectable even with Doppler ultrasonography. The distal pin was removed and the wound was re-explored. An iatrogenic partial anterior tibial artery cut was noted near the distal pin insertion site. Although the pin causing the iatrogenic arterial injury was placed under direct visualization, the degree of soft tissue injury altered the appearance of the local anatomy. The pin was subsequently revised and both dorsalis pedis and posterior tibialis arteries were reconstructed using the contralateral saphenous venous graft. Perfusion was restored immediately. Conclusion: This case highlights among the hazardous outcome associated with damage control orthopaedics, particularly when the normal local anatomy is altered due to trauma. Neurovascular structures are still at risk despite the establishment of anatomic safe zones for placement of external fixation pins. Careful assessment of external fixator pin placement is crucial to avoiding iatrogenic injury. A thorough vascular examination prior to leaving the operating room is essential while the patient remains in a controlled setting. 2014 Conference or Workshop Item PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/1/Program_Book_%28Poster_Presentation%29.pdf application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/2/MOA2014_-_P11B_-_External_Fixator_Hazard.pdf Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff and Ismail Mansor, Nur Akmal and Mohd Yusof, Nazri and Sulong, Ahmad Fadzli and Ismail, Raffael and Noor Rahin, Mohd. Shahidan and Ayeop, Mohd Adham Syah and Othman, Ahmad Faidzal (2014) The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization. In: 44th Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA) Annual General Meeting / Annual Scientific Meeting 2014 incorporating 11th CAOS Asia Meeting, 29 May 2014 - 1 June 2014, Hilton Kuala Lumpur / Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur.
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Local University
institution International Islamic University Malaysia
building IIUM Repository
collection Online Access
language English
English
topic RD701 Orthopedics
RD92 Wounds and injuries
spellingShingle RD701 Orthopedics
RD92 Wounds and injuries
Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff
Ismail Mansor, Nur Akmal
Mohd Yusof, Nazri
Sulong, Ahmad Fadzli
Ismail, Raffael
Noor Rahin, Mohd. Shahidan
Ayeop, Mohd Adham Syah
Othman, Ahmad Faidzal
The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
description Background: In the setting of severe trauma, placement of external fixation is an expedient and minimally invasive method of temporarily stabilizing fractures. However, the procedure is not without complications. Most complications are related to pins insertion. Case report: We report a case of a 17-year-old man who sustained an open tibial fracture type IIIC. The posterior tibialis pulse of the affected lower limb was not detectable on initial evaluation. Intra-operative exploration revealed an injured posterior tibialis artery with a 3-cm substance loss at the level of the fracture. The dorsalis pedis artery remained palpable and the toes were pink. Ligation of the posterior tibialis artery was decided by the vascular team. A unilateral external fixator was applied to stabilize the fracture. Pins were inserted within the anatomic safe zones for pin placements. However, immediately after surgery, the toes were noted to be pale and the dorsalis pedis artery was no longer detectable even with Doppler ultrasonography. The distal pin was removed and the wound was re-explored. An iatrogenic partial anterior tibial artery cut was noted near the distal pin insertion site. Although the pin causing the iatrogenic arterial injury was placed under direct visualization, the degree of soft tissue injury altered the appearance of the local anatomy. The pin was subsequently revised and both dorsalis pedis and posterior tibialis arteries were reconstructed using the contralateral saphenous venous graft. Perfusion was restored immediately. Conclusion: This case highlights among the hazardous outcome associated with damage control orthopaedics, particularly when the normal local anatomy is altered due to trauma. Neurovascular structures are still at risk despite the establishment of anatomic safe zones for placement of external fixation pins. Careful assessment of external fixator pin placement is crucial to avoiding iatrogenic injury. A thorough vascular examination prior to leaving the operating room is essential while the patient remains in a controlled setting.
format Conference or Workshop Item
author Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff
Ismail Mansor, Nur Akmal
Mohd Yusof, Nazri
Sulong, Ahmad Fadzli
Ismail, Raffael
Noor Rahin, Mohd. Shahidan
Ayeop, Mohd Adham Syah
Othman, Ahmad Faidzal
author_facet Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff
Ismail Mansor, Nur Akmal
Mohd Yusof, Nazri
Sulong, Ahmad Fadzli
Ismail, Raffael
Noor Rahin, Mohd. Shahidan
Ayeop, Mohd Adham Syah
Othman, Ahmad Faidzal
author_sort Sharifudin, Mohd Ariff
title The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
title_short The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
title_full The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
title_fullStr The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
title_full_unstemmed The downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
title_sort downside of damage control orthopaedics: a case of open tibial fracture with injury of anterior tibial artery after external fixation stabilization
publishDate 2014
url http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/
http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/1/Program_Book_%28Poster_Presentation%29.pdf
http://irep.iium.edu.my/36814/2/MOA2014_-_P11B_-_External_Fixator_Hazard.pdf
first_indexed 2023-09-18T20:52:47Z
last_indexed 2023-09-18T20:52:47Z
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