Evaluation and Treatment of Vascular Injury

1. Evaluation and Treatment of Vascular Injury Heather Vallier, MD Original Author: Timothy McHenry, MD; March 2004 New Author: Heather Vallier, MD; Revised January 2006

2. Potential Orthopedic Emergencies Open fracture Irreducible dislocations Vascular injury Amputation Compartment syndrome Unstable pelvic fracture/ hemodynamic instability Multiply-injured patient Spinal cord injury Displaced femoral neck and talar neck fractures

3. Potential Orthopedic Emergencies Open fracture Irreducible dislocations Vascular injury Amputation Compartment syndrome Unstable pelvic fracture/ hemodynamic instability Multiply-injured patient Spinal cord injury

4. Vascular injury “the clock starts ticking” • Blood loss • Progressive ischemia • Compartment syndrome • Tissue necrosis Irreversible damage after 6 hours

5. Vascular injury Increased incidence with: • Proximity of vessels to bone • Tethering of vessels at joints • Superficial location of vessels

6. Arterial injuries associated with fractures or dislocations Clavicle fracture subclavian artery Shoulder fx/dislocation axillary artery Supracondylar humerus fx brachial artery Elbow dislocation brachial artery Pelvic fracture gluteal arteries iliac arteries Femoral shaft fx femoral artery Distal femur fracture popliteal artery Knee dislocation popliteal artery Tibial shaft fx tibial arteries

7. Incidence of Fracture or Dislocation with Vascular Injury Uncommon • 3% of long bone fractures Specific circumstances • Fractures with GSW (up to 38%) • Knee dislocations (16-40%)

8. Mechanism of Injury • Penetrating trauma • GSW • Stab • Blunt trauma • High energy • Low energy • Iatrogenic Blunt trauma with 27% amputation rate vs 9% for penetrating in Natl Trauma Database, Mullenix PS, et al. J Vasc Surg 2006

9. Types of vascular injuries • Spasm • Intimal flaps • Subintimal hematoma • Laceration • Transection • Thrombosis/Occlusion • A-V fistula Some require treatment, some do not

10. Consequences of vascular injury • Blood loss • Ischemia • Compartment syndrome • Tissue necrosis • Amputation • Death

11. Prognostic factors • Level and type of vascular injury • Collateral circulation • Shock/hypotension • Tissue damage (crush injury) • Warm ischemia time • Patient factors/medical conditions

12. Speed is crucial • Rapid resuscitation • Complete, rapid evaluation • Urgent surgical treatment PROTOCOL IS ESSENTIAL !

13. Immediate treatment • Control bleeding • Replace volume loss • Cover wounds • Reduce fractures/dislocations • Splint • Re-evaluate

14. Diagnosis • Physical exam • Doppler pressure (Ankle/brachial systolic pressure index (ABI)) • Duplex scanning • Arteriogram • Exploration

15. Diagnosis • Physical exam • Doppler pressure (Ankle/brachial systolic pressure index (ABI)) • Duplex scanning • Arteriogram • Exploration Careful physical exam and high index of suspicion are most important !

16. Physical exam • Major hemorrhage/hypotension • Arterial bleeding • Expanding hematoma • Altered distal pulses • Pallor • Temperature differential between extremities • Injury to anatomically-related nerve

17. Asymmetric pulses warrant doppler examination (determine ABI) • Absent pulses warrant emergent vascular consultation/surgical exploration

18. Doppler Ultrasound • Determine presence/absence of arterial supply • Assess adequacy of flow PRESENCE OF SIGNAL DOES NOT EXCLUDE ARTERIAL INJURY !

19. Doppler Ultrasound for Knee Dislocation • Abnormal ABI < 0.90 • Does not define extent or level of injury • Abnormal values warrant further evaluation • ABI > 0.90 can be observed (i.e. no arteriogram) Mills, et al. J. Trauma 2004

20. Duplex Scanning • Noninvasive • Safe • Rapid • Reliable for • Injury to arteries and veins • A-V fistulas • Pseudoaneurysms

21. Duplex vs Arteriography in Evaluating Iatrogenic Arterial Injuries in Dogs

22. Duplex scanning • Requires technician and scanner availability • Not all surgeons will operate based on duplex information alone

23. Click image to zoom out

24. Angiography • Locates site of injury • Characterizes injury • Defines status of vessels proximal and distal • May afford therapeutic intervention

25. Angiography Identify and control (i.e. embolization) bleeding from pelvic fractures

26. Angiography • Expensive • Time-consuming • Difficult to monitor/treat trauma patient in angiography suite • Procedural risks • Renal burden from dye • Possibility of anaphylaxis • Injury to proximal vessels

27. CT Angiography • Alternative to conventional angiography • Good sensitivity and specificity • Costs much more ANGIOGRAPHY WILL DELAY REVASCULARIZATION. It is not indicated in cases with absent pulses/complete transection, which should go immediately to surgery Redmond, et al. Orthopedics 2008

28. Operative angiography • Single view in operating room • Rapid • Excellent for detecting site of injury

29. Surgical exploration Immediate exploration is indicated for: • Obvious arterial injury on exam • No doppler signal • Site of injury is apparent • Prolonged warm ischemia time

30. Reduce, stabilize, resuscitate No pulses Asymmetric pulses Normal exam Doppler Injury obvious Multilevel injury ? ABI <0.9 ABI >0.9 Angiography or duplex Observation Surgery Modified from Brandyk, CORR 2005

31. Continued evaluation • Vascular injuries are dynamic • Evaluation should continue after the initial injury or surgery • Additional debridement and/or fixation undertaken after successful revascularization

32. Continued evaluation • Circulation • Neurologic function • Compartment pressures

33. Surgical considerations • Who goes first? • Temporary shunts • Fracture stabilization • Salvage vs amputation • Fasciotomies

34. Surgical considerations • Who goes first? Discuss with vascular surgeon • Temporary shunts Will benefit some patients • Fracture stabilization Consider provisional ex fix • Salvage vs amputation Trend toward salvage (LEAP) • Fasciotomies Prophylactic after Ischemia

35. Conclusions • Potential exists with every orthopedic injury • Uncommon • Be aware of injuries associated • Understand signs and symptoms of arterial injury

36. Conclusions • Time is crucial • Paramount for diagnosis • High index of suspicion • Thorough physical exam • Have a defined protocol/relationship with your colleagues from vascular and trauma surgery

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