Upper extremity vascular injuries:Etiology,management and outcome

BACKGROUND Vascular injuries of the upper extremities are considered relatively rare injuries affecting mostly the young population.They often are complex injuries accompanied by other musculoskeletal trauma or trauma in other anatomic locations.Their management is challenging since they can lead to disabilities with major socioeconomic effects.AIM To analyze data about the mechanism of injury,the management algorithm and functional outcomes of vascular injuries of the upper extremity.METHODS One hundred and fifteen patients(96 males and 19 females)with arterial injuries of the upper extremity treated in a tertiary trauma center from January 2003 to December 2022 was conducted.Mean patients’age was 33.7 years and the mean follow up time was 7.4 years.Patients with Mangled Extremity Severity Score≥7 and Injury Severity Score≥20,previous upper limb surgery or major trauma and any neuromuscular or psychiatric disease were excluded,from the study.RESULTS A penetrating trauma was the most common cause of injury.The radial artery was the artery injured in most of the cases(37.4%)followed by the ulnar(29.5%),the brachial(12.1%)and the axillary(6%).A simultaneous injury of both of the forearm’s arteries was in 15.6%of the cases.In 93%of the cases there were other concomitant musculoskeletal injuries of the extremity.Tendon lacerations were the most common,followed by nerve injuries.The postoperative functional scores(full Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder,and Hand and VAS)had very satisfactory values.CONCLUSION Although vascular injuries of the upper extremity are rare,they may occur in the context of major combined musculoskeletal trauma.Although a multidisciplinary approach is essential to optimize outcome,the ability of trained hand surgeons to repair all injuries in combined vascular and musculoskeletal upper extremity trauma,excluding isolated vascular injuries,ensures shorter operative times and better functional outcomes.

Update in combined musculoskeletal and vascular injuries of the extremities

Combined musculoskeletal and vascular injuries of the extremities are conditions in which a multidisciplinary approach is a sine qua non to ensure life initially and limb viability secondarily.Vascular injuries as part of musculoskeletal trauma are usually the result of the release of a high energy load in the wound site so that the prognosis is determined by the degree of soft-tissue damage,duration of limb ischemia,patient’s medical status and presence of associated injuries.The management of these injuries is challenging and requires a specific algorithm of action,because they are usually characterized by increased morbidity,amputation rate,infection,neurological and functional deficits,and they could be life threatening.Although vascular injuries are rare and occur either isolated or in the context of major combined musculoskeletal trauma,the high index of suspicion,imaging control,and timely referral of the patient to organized trauma centers ensure the best functional outcome of the extremity in such challenging cases.Even after a successful initial treatment of a combined trauma pattern,long-term follow-up is crucial to prevent and detect early possible complications.The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an update on diagnosis and treatment of combined musculoskeletal and vascular injuries of the extremities,from an orthopedic point of view.

Severe Musculoskeletal Injuries in Children during Play

Introduction: Musculoskeletal injuries are common in children but rarely severe. Their treatment varies according to the type of injury observed. The aim was to describe the epidemiological and therapeutic aspects of severe musculoskeletal injuries in children during play. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted in the Orthopaedic-Traumatology Department and the Paediatric Surgery Unit of the University Hospital of Bouaké between January 2018 and December 2020. It concerned patients less than 16 years of age hospitalised for more than 24 hours for a musculoskeletal trauma following a gambling accident. The variables studied were epidemiological and therapeutic. Results: A total of 53 patients were collected. The frequency was 2.9%. The mean age was 9 ± 3.99 years. There were 38 (71.7%) boys and 15 (28.3%) girls. The sex ratio was 2.5. The patients were attending school in 79.3% (n = 42). The circumstances of occurrence were dominated by falls during play accidents (n = 35;66%). Football was observed in 93.5% (n = 49). The thoracic limb (n = 35;66%) was the preferred site of these injuries. The injuries were closed (86.7%) with a predominance of forearm fractures (n = 22;41.6%). The average hospital stay was 2.8 ± 1.4 days. Most of the patients were treated orthopedically (n = 37;69.9%). The evolution was favourable without complications. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal injuries during play were infrequent (2.9%). The circumstances were dominated by falls during play. The injuries were mainly closed fractures, most of which were treated orthopedically.