High incidence of ischemic necrosis of the gluteal muscle after transcatheter angiographic embolization for severe pelvic fracture.

Background: After transcatheter angiographic embolization (TAE), massive gluteal muscle necrosis was found in patients during open reduction and internal fixation for pelvic fracture.

Methods: In our six patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans obtained 1 and 4 weeks after TAE demonstrated ischemic damage of the gluteal muscle.

Results: Total reopening of the embolized artery was confirmed in only one case on the second angiogram obtained 1 month after TAE.