Arterial injuries in extremities trauma, angiographic findings

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Trauma is a leading cause of mortality, with vascular injuries being a significant component.
• Vascular damage from trauma can lead to critical tissue ischemia within 6 hours, necessitating rapid intervention.
• Early detection and prompt treatment of vascular trauma are vital to prevent irreversible complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence, causes, and common sites of vascular injuries in trauma patients.
• To identify the most frequently injured vessels and types of vascular damage.
• To compare findings with international data on traumatic vascular injuries.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at Tabriz Imam Khomeini Hospital's angiography department.
• All trauma patients with suspected vascular injury from April 2011 to April 2012 were included.
• Angiography was used for diagnosis, and results were compared with global studies.

Main Results:

• Angiography identified vascular injury in 75 patients (93.7% male).
• Motorcycle accidents were the primary cause (93.3%), with the leg being the most common injury site (62.2%).
• The anterior tibial artery was most frequently injured (36%), and complete arterial occlusion was the most common vascular injury (62.7%).

Conclusions:

• Traumatic vascular injuries predominantly affect young men, often resulting from motorcycle accidents.
• The leg and anterior tibial artery are common sites and vessels involved in these injuries.
• Findings highlight the importance of timely angiography for diagnosing vascular trauma, particularly in cases of lower extremity injury.