Monday 22 August 2016

Brachial Artery Injury In Distal Humerus Fracture Treated without Vascular Intervention

A 35 year old patient had a RTA and sustained injury to Right Elbow and Arm. He was primararily treated elsewhere and came to us after 8 hrs of injury.

X-rays





But Radial Pulse was not palpable on the right side. Finger movements were full and SPO2 in the fingers showed 94% saturation.

CT Angio showed blockage of Brachial artery at the level of elbow with good distal flow in the ulnar and radial artery in the forearm.

CT ANGIO





Operative Pearls :


- Surgery through Posterior approach

- Bony spike of proximal fragment touching the Brachial artery.

- Spike lifted and Torn Brachialis muscle repaired

- Artery found to be pulsating

- Fracture fixation done

- It is important to visualize the Brachial artery from Posterior approach

INTRA OP PICTURES







POST OP XRAYS





Post operative the distal SPO2 improved to 98% and Patient’s Limb Survived Without VASCULAR INTERVENTION.

After 2 weeks of Surgery, PULSE was WELL PALPABLE and Patient had a full recovery.