Endovascular management of an axillary arterial injury post shoulder dislocation

Axillary arterial injury is a rare complication of non-recurrent glenohumeral joint dislocation. Previously this type of injury would have required open exploration of the axillary artery with associated risk of iatrogenic injury to the axillary vein or brachial plexus. We present the case of a 75-year-old lady, who following a fall in her own home, sustained a dislocation of her right shoulder joint complicated by avulsion of a branch of her axillary artery. We describe the successful endovascular management of the injury using a self-expanding stent and propose this as the preferred surgical option where the artery is not completely transected.