OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the relationship between abdominal injuries and the introduction of guide wire in experimental hip surgery, to propose a scoring system and a medical management based on the distance traveled by the guide wire from the quadrilateral plate until the damaged anatomical structure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 18 cadaveric hips, a Steimann pin of 3.2 x 300mm, an electric drill and a caliper were used. The wire was inserted in the center of the femoral neck through a lateral approach in the hip under direct visualization. Via median abdominal extended approach to the pelvic region, the quadrilateral plate was observed until the wire crossed it. From this point the wire was further inserted 140 mm in order to observe its abdominal path and describe the lesions presented based on the distance traveled. RESULTS: There were five lesions (27%) in the sigmoid colon, and one transfixing injury (5%) of the obturator nerve. The common iliac arteries and veins from the contralateral hip were not injured. CONCLUSION: The guide wire must not exceed the quadrilateral plate. Preventive measures are important in the pre- and intra-operatory stages and the score and medical management proposed in this study should be carefully observed in cases of injury.
Anatomy; Wounds and Injuries; Hip fractures; Orthopedic wire
