Upper limb arterial injury: Management and Outcome

ABSTRACT

In this study we are aiming to document and analyse the roles of arterial damage and associated injuries on long-term functional outcomes after upper extremity arterial trauma. In this retrospective study we reviewed patients who presented with an arterial injury to the upper limb during the period between [2003 to 2006]. The location and management of the arterial injuries, the nature and severity of concomitant nerve injuries and the overall degree of disability in the survivors were determined. 68 patients were included in this study. 34 patients [50%] sustained blunt injuries, 33 [48.5%] were presented with penetrating injuries, and one patient sustained firearm injury. The most common site of arterial injury was the brachial artery 36 patients [52.9%]. The most common method of surgical management was an autogenous vein interposition graft, placed in 24 patients [35.3%]. 28 patients were suffered serious upper limb fractures such as supracondylar fracture humerous. There were 19 nerve injuries. Residual disability was present in 13 patients [19%]. Only 2 patients had complete recovery of the injured nerves. Associated injuries, rather than the vascular injury, are the cause of long-term disability in the multisystem trauma victim who has upper extremity arterial injury