RESEARCH PAPER
Pediatric arterial injuries of the forearm and hand
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Pediatric Surgery in Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2014-09-01
 
 
Acceptance date: 2015-04-27
 
 
Online publication date: 2015-07-07
 
 
Publication date: 2020-03-26
 
 
Corresponding author
Michal Pasierbek   

Department of Pediatric Surgery in Zabrze, Silesian Medical University in Katowice, 3-Maja 13-15, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland. Tel.: +48 32 37 04 354; fax: +48 32 37 04 354.
 
 
Pol. Ann. Med. 2015;22(2):124-128
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Traumatic injuries of the arteries are rare in children. Operations due to that kind of damage, inherently difficult, become a challenge for a pediatric surgeon.

Aim:
The aim of the study was to present the Center's own experience in treating children with rare penetrating injuries.

Material and methods:
A review was completed of 10 patients treated between 2009 and 2012 due to penetrating injuries of the forearm and hand with accompanying damage to the radial and/or ulnar artery.

Results and discussion:
There were 9 boys and 1 girl of average age 15.7 years. Injury of the radial artery was reported in 6 patients, of the ulnar in 2, of both arteries in 1 and of the superficial palmar arch in 1 patient. Partial damage was observed in 4, and complete in 7 arteries. In total, 2 patients were treated by ligation, 8 by arterial repair. In each case damage to the arteries was accompanied by injury of the muscles, and in 1 case additionally of the ulnar and median nerves. Postoperative period nerve deficits were observed in 5 patients; 4 patients were submitted to the follow-up. In 2 of these sensory disorders, slightly worse warmth of the limbs was reported.

Conclusions:
The treatment of choice in children should be repair of the damaged vessel, nevertheless ligation of single artery does not determine limb ischemia. Concomitant neural damage determines occurrence of transient and permanent loss of limb function.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The proofreading of the article was provided by Proof-reading-Service.com.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
 
REFERENCES (11)
1.
Nazem M, Beigi AA, Sadeghi AM, Masoudpour H. Non iatrogenic paediatric vascular trauma of the extremities and neck. Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2009;6(1):35–39.
 
2.
De Virgilio C, Mercado PD, Arnell T, Donayre C, Bongard F, White R. Noniatrogenic pediatric vascular trauma: a tenyear experience at a level I trauma center. Am Surg. 1997;63(9):781–784.
 
3.
Klinkner DB, Arca MJ, Lewis BD, Oldham KT, Sato TT. Pediatric vascular injuries: patterns of injury, morbidity, and mortality. J Pediatr Surg. 2007;42(1):178–182.
 
4.
Noaman HH. Management and functional outcomes of combined injuries of flexor tendons, nerves, and vessels at the wrist. Microsurgery. 2007;27(6):536–543.
 
5.
Stanford JR, Evans WE, Morse TS. Pediatric arterial injuries. Angiology. 1976;27(1):1–7.
 
6.
Myers SI, Reed MK, Black CT, Burkhalter KJ, Lowry PA. Noniatrogenic pediatric vascular trauma. J Vasc Surg. 1989;10(3):258–265.
 
7.
Evans WE, King DR, Hayes JP. Arterial trauma in children: diagnosis and management. Ann Vasc Surg. 1988;2(3):268–270.
 
8.
Shah SR, Wearden PD, Gaines BA. Pediatric peripheral vascular injuries: a review of our experience. J Surg Res. 2009;153(1):162–166.
 
9.
Iconomou TG, Zuker RM, Michelow BJ. Management of major penetrating glass injuries to the upper extremities in children and adolescents. Microsurgery. 1993;14(2):91–96.
 
10.
Wolf YG, Reyna T, Schropp KP, Harmel RP. Arterial trauma of the upper extremity in children. J Trauma. 1990;30(7):903–905.
 
11.
Lee RE, Obeid FN, Horst HM, Bivins BA. Acute penetrating arterial injuries of the forearm. Ligation or repair? Am Surg. 1985;51(6):318–324.
 
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top