War injuries of major extremity arteries.

During the period 1991-1994, 99 patients (all males, median age 35 years) with combat-related injuries of major limb arteries were managed. Mechanism: mine fragments (40%), high-velocity projectiles (35%), and shotgun pellets (25%). Patients were admitted 1 hour to 16 hours (median 8 hours) after injury; 39% were in severe hemorrhagic shock.