You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Case Reports: Learning from unexpected outcome (positive or negative)
Pseudoaneurysm of the subclavian artery as a delayed complication of a clavicle fracture
  1. Jennifer Cogburn1,
  2. Joshua F Gilens1 and
  3. Morteza Khodaee2
  1. 1Family Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
  2. 2Family Medicine and Orthopedics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Morteza Khodaee; Morteza.khodaee{at}cuanschutz.edu

Abstract

Vascular complications are relatively rare following surgical fixation of midshaft clavicle fractures. Here, we report a case of a woman in her 30s presenting 10 years after right clavicular open reduction and internal fixation with revision 6 years prior with sudden and rapidly progressive neck swelling. Physical examination revealed a soft pulsating mass in her right supraclavicular fossa. Ultrasound and CT angiography of the head and neck showed a pseudoaneurysm of her right subclavian artery with a surrounding haematoma. She was admitted to the vascular surgery team for endovascular repair with stenting. Postoperatively, she developed arterial thrombi requiring thrombectomy (twice) and is now on lifelong anticoagulation. It is crucial to be aware of complications that can develop in patients with a history of clavicular fracture managed non-operatively or operatively even years later and highlights the importance of risk and benefit discussions and counselling.

  • Vascular surgery
  • Orthopaedic and trauma surgery
  • Radiology
  • Orthopaedics

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-252430

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors (JC, JFG, MK) participated in the patient’s care, literature review, and manuscript preparation and approval.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.