Arterial Injury in the Upper Extremity: Evaluation, Strategies, and Anticoagulation Management

Trauma to the upper extremity can present with an associated arterial injury. After patient stabilization, thorough assessment with physical examination and various imaging modalities allows accurate diagnosis of the specific arterial injury. After diagnosis, efficient treatment is necessary to allow limb salvage. Treatment options include ligation, primary repair, graft reconstruction, endovascular repair, and amputation. The final treatment rendered is frequently dependent on injury location and mechanism. With any of the treatment options, complications may occur, including thrombosis. Currently, no validated anticoagulation protocol has been established for managing arterial injuries in the upper extremity.