[Traumatic lesions of the axillary and brachial artery]

During af six year period 16 patients were treated for an axillary or brachial artery trauma. The vascular injury was caused by fracture in nine cases, contusion in four and penetrating injury in three. Concomitant nerve or tendon lesion occurred in five cases. Five of the 16 events were industrial accidents. Only one case was due to violence. Four patients appeared to be intoxicated with alcohol. Fifteen patients were treated surgically, 12 with vascular reconstruction. One patient was treated conservatively. At the time of discharge all extremities were assessed as having normal arterial supply. At follow-up at median 28 months all extremities were preserved. However, two-thirds had minimal to disabling sequels. Four out of 10 who were professionally active before the trauma had lost this ability.