INTRODUCTION: The ideal treatment of an isolated radial artery injury that is associated with a fracture of the distal radius is unknown. Our purposes were to assess the incidence of this injury pattern and to describe the outcomes of our treatment protocol. We hypothesised that combined routine repair of the artery during operative treatment results in a satisfactory outcome. METHODS: Our study group consisted of 14 patients who were treated by one surgeon with a consistent treatment algorithm. The average follow-up duration was 52 weeks. Our control group consisted of 380 patients with fracture of the distal radius without radial artery injury, who were treated by the same surgeon during a 3-year period. RESULTS: We observed a 2% incidence of isolated radial artery injury in patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the distal radius. Outcomes were comparable to those reported for operative treatment of fractures of the distal radius without radial artery injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol resulted in adequate outcomes, a 71% patency rate (five of seven fractures with adequate vascular follow-up) and no evidence of symptoms related to a poorly perfused hand.
INTRODUCTION: The ideal treatment of an isolated radial artery injury that is associated with a fracture of the distal radius is unknown. Our purposes were to assess the incidence of this injury pattern and to describe the outcomes of our treatment protocol. We hypothesised that combined routine repair of the artery during operative treatment results in a satisfactory outcome. METHODS: Our study group consisted of 14 patients who were treated by one surgeon with a consistent treatment algorithm. The average follow-up duration was 52 weeks. Our control group consisted of 380 patients with fracture of the distal radius without radial artery injury, who were treated by the same surgeon during a 3-year period. RESULTS: We observed a 2% incidence of isolated radial artery injury in patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the distal radius. Outcomes were comparable to those reported for operative treatment of fractures of the distal radius without radial artery injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocol resulted in adequate outcomes, a 71% patency rate (five of seven fractures with adequate vascular follow-up) and no evidence of symptoms related to a poorly perfused hand.
Authors: Bernd Lannau; Jacqueline Bliley; Isaac B James; Sheri Wang; Wesley Sivak; Kang Kim; John Fowler; Alexander M Spiess Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2015-12-09