Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of extremity vascular trauma.

Extremity vascular trauma poses several difficult dilemmas in diagnosis and treatment. The still evolving trend in management of these injuries is toward more rapid, less costly, and less invasive diagnostic modalities, an improved understanding of the therapeutic implications of the clinical presentation, prompt repair of significant vascular injuries, and a liberal use of adjunctive techniques such as fasciotomy. Many issues remain to be resolved by further experience and investigation, in order to achieve optimal limb salvage in this setting.