Purpose: In developing countries delayed presentation following major vascular injury is common due to limited vascular trauma units; delay in diagnosis and time lost in transit which pose a major challenge for limb salvage. Aim of this study was to assess limb survival and complications after delayed revascularization of extremity following major vascular injury.

Method: 20 patients, (19 males and 1 female, mean age 31.55 years) with major extremity vascular injury who presented >8 h after vascular trauma were included in this study. All patients had road traffic accidents as the cause of extremity injury. These patients were operated by primary vascular repairs, thrombectomy and/or interposition vein graft along with fixation of concomitant skeletal trauma.

Results: The commonest vessel injured was popliteal artery. The mean time of limb revascularization was 30.8 h. Limb salvage rate was 95% and there was no perioperative mortality. 9 patients developed postoperative complications including sloughing of leg muscles (4), foot drop (3) pseudo aneurysm (1) and reperfusion injury (1). At 6 months follow-up all the patients were able to walk with full weight bearing and there was no chronic ischemia, pain or sinuses.

Conclusion: Limb salvage can be achieved with good results in patients with delayed revascularization in selected cases. However; delayed revascularization leads to long and protracted postoperative course with high chances of vascular and neurological complications.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9660842PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2022.10.016DOI Listing

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