Major Bleeding after Drainage Lancet Vascular Injury in Total Hip Arthroplasty

We report a patient who presented with acute hypovolemic shock due to massive bleeding through the suction drainage lancet holes three days after a total hip arthroplasty. Emergency digital arteriography revealed active bleeding of a perforating muscular branch of the profunda femoris artery located at the level of the lancet holes. Selective embolization with a microcatheter controlled the haemorrhage and avoided further surgical exploration, which could have demonstrated no active bleeding from the hip or pelvis.