[Vascular injuries associated with osteoarticular lesions of the lower extremities]

The authors report 38 observations of vascular traumatisms associated to osteo-articular lesions of lower members cured by restorative treatment. The authors define a diagnostic and therapeutic line of conduct. They insisted upon the necessity of early diagnosis of vascular lesion, based on ultrasonic exploration of vessels as soon as the patient was admitted to hospital. Restoration must be considered from a global point of view in taking into account the state of integuments , the type of selected osseous restoration, the vascular approach and the possible necessity of aponeurotomy . The importance of vascular lesion and the slowness of circulation restoration induced the results of the treatment, the major risks of which were infection and metabolic lesion of the kidney. In 18% of the cases amputation was necessary.