Retroperitoneal hematoma: an unusual cause of pain after total hip arthroplasty

A case report of idiopathic iliopsoas hematoma which occurred soon after transfer to the wheelchair after total hip arthroplasty

A 79-year-old woman was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the left hip and scheduled for total hip arthroplasty. As two lesions were detected in branches of the coronary arteries, she was treated with catheter treatment. The patient was receiving anticoagulant treatment, which was suspended eight days before the operation; however, heparin was started at 6 days before the operation and was stopped 9 hours before the operation. On the 2nd postoperative day soon after transfer to the wheel chair, she was feeling unwell and was suffering from severe pain in her left buttock and left thigh. Her blood pressure had decreased to 70 mmHg. During abdominal contrast-enhanced CT, a hematoma was detected in the left iliopsoas muscle. Catheter therapy was started by the cardiovascular department and bleeding had stopped spontaneously. The patient was able to walk with a cane and was discharged on the 40th postoperative day.

Abbreviations: THA: total hip arthroplasty, CT: computed tomography, JOA score: Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score, HA: hydroxyapatite, PMMA: polymethyl-methacrylate, APTT: activated partial thromboplastin time

TWO CLASSIFICATIONS FOR SURGICAL WOUND HEMATOMA AFTER TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Objective:

To determine the reliability of two classification methods for wound hematoma after total hip replacement.

Methods:

This prospective cohort study was conducted on patients who underwent total hip replacement for hip osteoarthritis between May 2014 and April 2015. Epidemiological, surgical, and functional data were assessed. Two experienced hip surgeons evaluated 75 pictures of wounds taken 24 hours after surgery. Both evaluators performed the analysis twice, with a 6-week interval between the two analyses. The subjective classification was divided into four different categories describing the hematoma: absent, mild, moderate, and severe. The objective classification was derived from mathematical calculation of the area of the hematoma using a grid superimposed on a picture of the wound.

Results:

The subjective classification demonstrated an intra-rater agreement of more than 70%, while kappa values showed poor to moderate inter-rater reliability. The objective classification based on mathematical measurements of the hematoma area was more reliable, with good to excellent intra- and inter-rater reliability.

Conclusion:

The objective classification demonstrated higher intra- and inter-rater reliability. The classification methods used in this study could serve as a useful instrument for orthopedic surgeons, researchers, and health care providers when assessing wound hematomas after total hip replacement. Level of Evidence II; Development of diagnostic criteria on consecutive patients (with universally applied reference ‘‘gold’’ standard).

Pseudo-Pelvic Mass

Joint replacement is becoming a more common surgical procedure, and it may have unusual or unexpected postoperative complications. This case report discusses the evaluation of a large pelvic mass first noted on physical examination and ultimately diagnosed by sonography and computed tomography as a chronic hematoma resulting from a failed total left hip arthroplasty.

[Lower limb paresis after total hip arthroplasty. A rare differential diagnosis]

We report on a case of complex nerve damage during total hip arthroplasty. The most severe clinical symptom was proximal leg paresis with diffuse sensory loss. There was an extensive causal Iliopsoas hematoma which developed during the postoperative rehabilitation under therapeutic anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation. An iliopsoas hematoma with subsequent neurological deficits are rare events in the field of hip arthroplasty and a literature review is provided. The treatment of retroperitoneal hemorrhage is controversial but in most instances a conservative approach is favored. The prognosis of neurological damage is sobering as only 20 % of victims are expected to achieve complete restitution.

An unusual cause of Grey Turner's sign

A woman in her late 70s presented to the acute general surgical take with a 3-day history of worsening right leg pain and swelling. She had undergone right revision total hip arthroplasty 20 months previously and reported chronic postoperative right thigh pain attributed to a femoral deep venous thrombosis for which she had been warfarinised. On examination, Grey Turner's sign (bruising of the flanks indicating retroperitoneal haemorrhage) was present, as well as a large tender mass in the right iliac fossa and pitting oedema throughout the right lower limb. Urgent CT scan with intravenous contrast revealed a right retroperitoneal haematoma secondary to a right acetabular screw protruding into the right external iliac vein. The patient was successfully managed with warfarin reversal and surgical removal of the relevant acetabular screw. At 2-month follow-up, the patient's symptoms continue to resolve.

Retroperitoneal hematoma with bone resorption around the acetabular component after total hip arthroplasty: a case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Vascular complications related to cup-fixating screws penetrating the medial acetabular wall during total hip arthroplasty are not uncommon but rarely are associated with serious adverse events in the late post-operative period.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 77-year-old Japanese woman who developed progressive extensive bone resorption and large hematoma in the acetabulum 13 years after total hip arthroplasty. On admission to our hospital, she was on oral warfarin (1.5mg/day) for atrial fibrillation. About 5 months after the initiation of anticoagulant therapy, she suffered a major fall followed by massive subcutaneous and pelvic girdle bleeding, predominantly on the medial side of the right thigh, but a fracture or damage of total hip arthroplasty was not evident on an emergency orthopedic evaluation. One year after the accident, a routine follow-up examination showed an asymptomatic osteolytic lesion in the acetabulum on the right pelvis, and 2 years later our patient noticed progressive pain in her right hip during walking. A large osteolytic lesion was noted in the right acetabulum on a plain radiograph. On high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, a huge granulomatous lesion in the acetabulum was suggestive of chronic hematoma in intrapelvic and extrapelvic gluteal regions. A closer computed tomography examination showed that one of the screws used for fixation of the acetabular component in the total hip arthroplasty had penetrated the acetabular bone and had reached the pelvic cavity. Surgery was performed in a single session by means of two approaches: anterior midline transperitoneal address to resect the low-density mass lesion followed by posterolateral acetabular implant re-settlement.

Conclusions

Though rare, total hip arthroplasty-related late vascular complications could be serious and potentially affect the limb and quality of life.

[Recurrent hematomas of the iliopsoas muscle after total hip replacement as a differential diagnosis for chronic groin pain: case series report]

BACKGROUND

Chronic and atraumatic groin pain may be due to a variety of pathologies local to and distal from the hip joint. Aside from frequent entities, such as inguinal hernia, impingement of the iliopsoas muscle by the anterior rim of the acetabular component leading to a hematoma can be a potential cause after total hip replacement (THR).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This article presents three cases of delayed groin pain after THR received due to osteoarthrosis of the hip joint several years prior to the onset of symptoms. In all three cases the patient suffered from chronic groin pain aggravated by active flexion without direct trauma. After thorough clinical, laboratory and radiological (ultrasound, x-ray, computed tomography) examination a hematoma of the iliopsoas muscle was detected. Furthermore, in all three cases the acetabular component appeared to be slightly malpositioned. Considering the least invasive procedure all cases were treated with an excavation of the hematoma. After recurrence the indications for revision of the malpositioned acetabular component were present.

RESULTS

All patients clearly showed a reduction of pain after operative revision. There have been no further hematomas and the patients could be easily and rapidly remobilized.

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent atraumatic groin pain connected to a deficit in hip flexion after THR needs thorough investigation by the treating physician. The differential diagnosis of a delayed hematoma due to impingement of the iliopsoas muscle is a rare but more complex entity. After careful consideration of the perioperative risks an early indication for revision of a malpositioned acetabular component is promising.