Femoral Neuropathy due to Iliacus Muscle Hematoma in a Patient on Warfarin Therapy

Abstract

Spontaneous hematomas of the iliacus muscle are rare lesions and these are seen in individuals receiving anticoagulation therapy or patients with blood dyscrasias such as hemophilia. It can cause femoral neuropathy and resultant pain and paralysis. Although there is no clear consensus for the treatment of femoral neuropathy from iliacus muscle hematomas, delays in the surgical evacuation of hematoma for decompression of the femoral nerve can lead to a prolonged or permanent disability. We report here on a rare case of a spontaneous iliacus muscle hematoma that caused femoral neuropathy in a patient who was taking warfarin for occlusive vascular disease and we discuss the treatment.

Keywords: Anticoagulation therapy; Femoral neuropathy; Iliacus muscle hamatoma.

Fig. 1

Source images of the computed tomography angiography of the lower extremities. Axial (A) and sagittal (B) images show an iliacus hematoma compressing the left psoas muscle (white arrow heads), as compared with the right psoas muscle. EIA : external iliac artery, IIA : internal iliac artery, Il : iliacus muscle, Ps : psoas muscle.

Fig. 2

Computed tomography one month after the surgical evacuation. The abdominal computed tomography scan shows a decreased amount of hematoma and a normal appearance of the left psoas muscle. EIA : external iliac artery, IIA : internal iliac artery, Il : iliacus muscle, Ps : psoas muscle.