Identification of the medial femoral safe zone for drilling during dynamic hip screw side plate fixation: A CT angiogram tracing of the profunda femoris artery

Objectives

Iatrogenic injury of the Profunda Femoris Artery (PFA) at time of hip fixation surgery can increase morbidity and mortality and prolong the hospital stay. This is an injury that tends to pass unnoticed as a cause of postoperative deterioration despite being frequently reported in the literature. Our study aims to describe the anatomy of the PFA in relation to the medial femoral cortex with specific emphasis on its orientation relative to the position of a sliding hip screw side plate construct. By doing so we are able to present clear guidance to orthopaedic surgeons on how to avoid iatrogenic PFA injury at the time of hip fracture fixation.

Methods

Using Computed Tomography Angiographic (CTA) studies, the course of the PFA in relation to the medial femoral cortex was traced in 44 patients (28 males and 16 females) with mean age of 65.6 years. Coronal and axial CT sections were cross-linked to specify the position of the PFA at 1?cm intervals.

Results

The course of the artery could be divided into three parts relative to a fixed reference point. Proximal and distal parts of the artery were in a safer position in comparison to the middle part of the artery that was found very close to the femoral cortex and along the coronal axis of the femur (mean angle 2.9° from the femoral coronal axis and 13.8?mm from the medial femoral cortex). Using the commercially available side plate constructs, this part of the artery corresponded to the distal part of the plate (third and fourth holes).

Conclusion

Special attention needs to be practiced by the operating surgeon while drilling into the third and fourth holes of the side plate.