Diagnosis of traumatic iliopsoas hematoma using point-of-care ultrasound

Abstract

Case 1 involved a 24-year-old man who complained of severe right groin pain and difficulty of walking after falling to the ground while snowboarding. The patient manifested flexion hip contracture on the right side. Abdominal examination detected tenderness in the right lower quadrant. Point-of-care ultrasound identified swelling of the right psoas major, compressing the right kidney. Case 2 involved a 74-year-old woman who complained of severe left lower quadrant and left groin pain after falling down. This patient also manifested flexion hip contracture, on the left side. Abdominal examination detected tenderness mainly in the left lower quadrant and a palpable mass accompanied by tenderness, lateral to the left femoral artery. Point-of-care ultrasound identified swelling of the left psoas major and of the iliopsoas musculotendinous unit at the level of the groin. Point-of-care ultrasound after obtaining precise history and the physical examination is a very useful modality for the quick diagnosis of iliopsoas hematoma in the emergency rooms. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.