Pseudoaneurysm – A Late and Rare Occurrence Following Shoulder Arthroscopy

Abstract

Introduction: : The incidence of vascular injuries from arthroscopic surgeries has been reported to be 0.005%. Pseudoaneurysms account for 11% of those injuries. Case Report: In this case report, we discuss a 76-year-old female who presented with a pulsatile swelling in the right shoulder after 10 years following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Imaging confirmed the diagnosis of a posterior circumflex artery pseudoaneurysm. The patient was successfully embolised using a transradial approach with thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm. Conclusion: Vascular injuries following arthroscopic shoulder surgery are rare. However, a pseudoaneurysm should be considered in patients who present with swelling at the surgical site, regardless of the post-operative interval. Keywords: Vascular injury, arthroscopy, circumflex artery pseudoaneurysm, embolisation.