Blunt arterial injury

A 5 year retrospective review of blunt arterial injuries at the Royal Brisbane Hospital revealed that delay in diagnosis had catastrophic effects on limb survival. Only 17 of 23 patients with arterial injury were diagnosed at the time of admission. No record of symptoms of limb ischaemia was made in 13 patients and no signs recorded in five. Eight limbs required amputation. Improved results should follow more accurate diagnosis at the time of admission.