Vascular injury associated with fractures and dislocations

ABSTRACT

We retrospectively reviewed the results of the fractures with concomitant vascular injury in 17 patients seen in the last 36 months at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During this period 225 patients were admitted to the hospital due to fractures and dislocations. The minimum age was 3 years and maximum 50 years [mean 25.6 years]. Fourteen cases were males and 3 were females. The majority, 11 [64.7%], sustained the injury as a result of road traffic accident. Popliteal artery was injured in 8 [47%], brachial artery in 4 and femoral artery in 3, subclavian artery in 2. The mean repair time was 12.37 hrs [4-24 hrs.]. Two patients underwent above knee amputation and one patient developed gangrene of big toe and second toe. It is concluded that the incidence of fractures with concomitant vascular injury was notably high in our services [7.5%]. There was quite a delay in the diagnosis and ultimately repair of the vessels. The complications seen were due to delay in repair of the injured vessel