Arterial vascular lesions during total hip prosthesis implantation

Implantation of total endoprosthesis (TEP) is an established method for the operative therapy of acute and chronic hip dysfunction. Beside septic complications iatrogenic injuries of the vascular system regularly occur. Immediate and adequate therapy is necessary in order to prevent loss of an extremity or even patients death. We present three patients with major vascular injuries during hip joint operations. In two patients was the external iliac artery and in one the femoral common artery injured. The cases were managed with PTFE- or Dacron-interposition. The problem of vascular injuries associated with the implantation of total hip joint endoprosthesis will be discussed and the avoidable of most vascular lesions is underlined.