Acetabular Surgery in the Prone Position Resulting in a Life-Threatening Splenic Injury: A Case Report.

Case: The case reported involves a patient who developed an unexplained decrease in hemoglobin after acetabular fracture surgery in the prone position. Repeat abdominal computed tomography was remarkable for a massive subcapsular spleen hematoma secondary to rib fracture impingement, which required splenectomy.

Conclusion: The spleen can be injured by a fracture rib during prone positioning for fixation of an acetabular fracture.