Pseudoaneurysm of the Dorsalis Pedis Artery Following Open Reduction Internal Fixation of a Second Metatarsal Fracture: A Case Study.

Pseudoaneurysms are created by a traumatic or iatrogenic perforation of an artery, resulting in accumulation of blood between the two outermost layers of a blood vessel, the tunica media and tunica adventitia. Pedal artery pseudoaneurysms are an extremely uncommon complication of foot and ankle surgery; therefore, few cases have been reported in the literature. Early diagnosis is important to ensure timely treatment of this condition. Once clinical suspicion has been established, urgent referral to vascular surgery for prompt surgical evaluation is required to prevent potentially harmful sequalae. We present the case of a 70-year-old female who developed a pseudoaneurysm of the dorsalis pedis artery 33 days after undergoing open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of a second metatarsal fracture. Her treatment included urgent referral to vascular surgery with subsequent surgical repair of the pseudoaneurysm via ligation of the medial dorsal branch of the dorsalis pedis artery. At 10-month follow-up, she denied any pain, sensory deficits, or functional disability and had returned to all preinjury activities with no recurrence of the pseudoaneurysm. Our case study demonstrates early diagnosis and successful treatment of a pseudoaneurysm of the dorsalis pedis artery that developed shorty after ORIF of a second metatarsal fracture.