Traumatic arteriovenous fistula formation secondary to crush injury

We describe a patient who suffered a crush injury after a motor vehicle accident leading to complex pelvic injuries complicated by an AV fistula. Traumatic arteriovenous (AV) fistulas from blunt, non-penetrating injuries are uncommon and rarely described in medical literature. A CT followed by pelvic angiogram performed by interventional radiology revealed a traumatic fistula which was then treated by embolization. Patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, craniotomy and open reduction internal fixation of pelvis and was stabilized prior to discharge to rehabilitation.