[Vascular trauma of the upper extremities]

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate short- and long-term results of the treatment of upper extremities vascular trauma considering aetiology of the lesions, percentage of limb salvage and residual functional disability. The Authors retrospectively evaluated 17 patients accounting for 21 vascular lesions of the upper extremities (16 arterial and 5 venous injuries). Age, sex, modality of trauma, site of the vascular lesions and of the associated injuries, diagnostic procedures at the admission, ischemic time, arterial and venous repair performed were analyzed. The over all peri-operative mortality was 5.8%. Of the 16 arterial injuries long-term reconstruction viability was obtained in 15 patients (93.7%). In all cases limb salvage was obtained. In 3 patients invalidating functional defects due to associated injuries of the major brachial plexus were observed. The Authors believe that associated nervous lesions are the main factor determining invalidating residual disability. In this series ischemic time, technique of vascular repair performed, associated skeletal injuries didn't influence the functional outcome of the reconstruction.