Trauma angiography of the extremity: the impact of injury mechanism on triage decisions.

A review of angiographic studies of 227 consecutive injured patients suspected of having sustained extremity arterial trauma was done to determine whether knowledge of the mechanisms of injury was of use in the establishment of priority in multiply injured patients. Stab wounds and other lacerations occurred in 32 patients. Major arterial injury occurred in only 3 (12%) cases; in no case was arterial occlusion present or limb viability threatened. These injuries may be angiographically evaluated on a nonurgent basis. Alternatively, patients with gunshot wounds (130 patients) and blunt injuries (63 patients) had a high incidence of major arterial injury (18 and 38%, respectively), especially arterial occlusion (15 and 24%, respectively) as well as a significant incidence of threatened limb viability (5 and 21%, respectively). Disproportionately increased risk of arterial injury occurred in patients with high-energy gunshot wounds (75%), motorcycle accidents (62%), and crush injuries (63%). Patients who sustain gunshot wounds or blunt injuries and have an abnormal vascular physical examination should be evaluated angiographically on an urgent basis.