Upper limb vascular trauma in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia

Upper limb vascular trauma is associated with major morbidity and mortality, but little is known about its incidence or nature in the Asir region of southern Saudi Arabia. During the five and a half-year period from May 1996 to December 2001, 27 patients were admitted to Asir Central Hospital (ACH), Abha, Saudi Arabia with upper limb vascular injury. The patients were 21 males and 6 females with a mean age of 27+/-12.6 years. Although penetrating trauma was more frequent than blunt trauma (59%), road traffic accident (RTA) was the most common single mechanism of trauma (33%). The brachial artery was the most frequently affected artery and interposition vein grafting was the most commonly employed type of vascular repair. Fifty-two percent of the patients had associated orthopedic injury and 60% had associated nerve injury. One patient underwent delayed above-elbow amputation and two patients died from other associated injuries. Vascular repair was successful in 24 out of the 26 patients in whom it was attempted (92%). However, the functional outcome of the limbs depended on the presence of associated nerve injury.