Outcome of delayed brachial artery repair in patients with traumatic brachial artery injury: prospective study.

A large proportion of patients with traumatic brachial artery injury have delayed referral for arterial repair in Iran. In this paper, we review the early outcome of delayed surgical repair of these patients. Patients with traumatic brachial artery injury who had been referred later than 24h from occurrence of trauma were selected from May 2003 to October 2004. Presence of mottling was the main exclusive criterion. Pre- and post-operative data were registered in data sheets. Among 27 patients who entered the study, the mechanism of trauma was stabbings in 74% of cases. End-to-end anastomosis (n=14) and interposition graft with saphenous vein (n=12) were the techniques used. Amputation was inevitable due to progressing infection in one case. Upper limbs were saved in the remaining 26 cases (96%). Based on these data we recommend arterial repair in patients with traumatic brachial artery injury even after golden time of arterial repair.