Vascular Trauma to the Extremities in the Pediatric Population: A Concise Review

The low incidence of non-iatrogenic extremity vascular injuries in children, combined with the anatomical and physiological characteristics of children, poses challenges for diagnosis, operative treatment, and recovery. No national guidelines are available to inform the care of children with vascular injuries to the extremities.

The objective of this concise report is to describe the incidence and contributing mechanisms of injury resulting in pediatric extremity vascular trauma and summarize currently cited approaches for management.

English-language publications in PubMed and CINAHL that focus on extremity vascular injuries in children aged 0-17 years were reviewed.

Publications from 2014 to the present were prioritized; however, as relevant research remains sparse, sentinel papers published before 2014 were also reviewed. Bibliographies from retrieved articles were also scanned. Retrospective studies, case studies, and single institution studies were included in the analysis.

Data were manually extracted from journal publications using established inclusion and exclusion criteria.

A panel of pediatric trauma experts reviewed a total of 29 papers, seeking evidence-based methodology and brief summaries of the available literature.

These injuries are rare, and the anatomical and physiological characteristics of pediatric vascular injuries mandate a multidisciplinary approach.

To minimize the consequences of extremity vascular injuries, successful treatment requires a high index of suspicion that allows for early diagnosis and prompt management. Clear recommendations regarding diagnosis and treatment are needed.