AVASCULAR NECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL-HEAD AS A COMPLICATION OF COMPLEX EMBOLIZATION FOR SEVERE PELVIC HEMORRHAGE

We present a case of avascular necrosis of the femoral head following embolization of the right medial femoral circumflex artery with alcoho l after a failed prior internal iliac artery ligation to control benig n pelvic haemorrhage in a 41-year-old woman. No case of late necrosis of the head of the femur as a complication of iliac artery vessel embo lization to control haemorrhage has been documented previously. The pr oblems associated with therapeutic pelvic embolization following ligat ion of the internal iliac artery and the disruption of the femoral hea d arterial supply are discussed.