Outcome following blunt vascular trauma of the upper extremity

Blunt trauma to the upper extremity may cause extensive vascular damage in addition to severe musculoskeletal injury. Over a 5.5-year period, 17 patients with a total of 23 arterial injuries were treated. Diagnosis was made in 16 patients before surgery by physical and Doppler ultrasonographic examination. Angiography performed in ten patients assessed the extent of injury. Associated orthopedic injuries were present in 11 patients and neurologic injury in 16. At surgery, 21 of 23 arterial repairs required autologous vein. The initial limb salvage rate was 76%. Four patients underwent above-elbow amputation because of progressive sepsis and myonecrosis. A fifth underwent delayed amputation at 7 months due to loss of limb function. Neurologic impairment was the major long-term morbidity. The data show that outcome following blunt vascular trauma of the upper extremity is governed by the associated injuries.