[Our experience in vascular trauma of the limbs]

Progress in the management of complex vascular injuries of the limbs has not eliminated the necessity for amputations. Physicians' failure to suspect vascular injury on admission in traumatized patients causes delay in the diagnosis and management of arterial injury that ultimately leads to limb loss. High index of suspicion, early recognition by clinical evaluation, routine use of Doppler flowmeter and broad indication of preoperative angiography result in prompt repair of these lesions in the majority of cases. In managing the lower popliteal or trifurcation vessels, distal radial and ulnar artery as well as nerve injuries, the Authors believe microsurgical techniques should always be employed.