SUPERIOR GLUTEAL ARTERY INJURY DURING ILIAC BONE-GRAFTING FOR SPINAL-FUSION - A CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

Study Design. This article reports a complication encountered when har vesting bone graft from the posterior iliac crest during a contemplate d spinal fusion.Objectives. Posterior iliac crest bone grafting is com monly performed with posterior spinal instrumentation and fusion. Summ ary of Background Data. Review of the literature reveals a few case re ports of damage through the superior gluteal artery during harvesting of bone grafts; this complication is managed with direct vessel ligati on. Methods. This article reviews the pertinent anatomy of posterior i liac crest bone grafting and addresses areas of caution important in p reventing this complication. Results. The case report offers alternati ve management, that is, selective arterial embolization for hemodynami c control of the massive life-threatening bleeding that can occur with superior gluteal artery lacerations. Conclusions. Injury to the super ior gluteal artery is a common complication in pelvic trauma. In this patient, therapeutic arterial embolization proved to be a useful tool in controlling hemorrhage, which prevents additional bleeding problems . Superior gluteal artery injury after elective bone graft surgery is a relatively uncommon, serious, but avoidable complication. In this pa tient, the use of radiographically controlled arterial embolization of the lacerated vessel proved to be a quick and effective solution to t his potentially life-threatening complication.