Vascular injuries and amputation following limb fractures

Sixty-seven cases treated for peripheral vascular injuries associated with fractures between the years of 1977 and 1988 in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of the Dicle University, Faculty of Medicine, were reviewed retrospectively. The cause of injury was blunt trauma in 37 cases (55%) and penetrating wounds in the others, 29 gunshot injuries and one case with a stab wound. The maintenance of vessel continuity was aimed at in all patients. The ratio of limb amputation was 13% in patients operated upon within the first 8 hours after the injury. The same ratio was 39% in cases where the surgical intervention was delayed beyond 8 hours.