Upper extremity trauma: current trends in management

Upper extremity trauma can be penetrating or blunt in etiology. The close proximity of vein, artery and nerve makes for a complicated presentation and potentially complicated reconstruction. Orthopedic and neurologic injuries can cause the more long term disability of these patients, but vascular injuries are initially more life threatening. Control of vascular injuries can be particularly difficult due to anatomic issues in the upper extremities. The intervention carried significant morbidity until evolution to endovascular approaches occurred. By reconstructing the injury from a more ''remote'' access site, less concomitant injury to the extremity can be encountered. However, although control of vascular injuries may result in greater survival rates with less morbidity from the procedure, long term outcome remains dependent upon concomitant injuries. This review will encompass both vascular and neurologic injuries secondary to trauma to the upper extremity and outline some of the trends in management.