Subclavian and Axillary Artery Trauma: The lmportance of Associated Brachial Plexus Insury

The medical records of patients with traumatic subclavian and axillar vascular injury (SAVI) over a 5-year period (1988-92) were reviewed. A total of 12 patients were identified. The group was predominantly male (10 men/2 women) with a mean age of 32 years (range, 13-74 years). Penetrating trauma accounted for 75 % of the cases. Seven patients (58.3 °/0)*SAVI and brachial plexus injury (BPI). Patients were treated by either primary repair (5 patients-41.6 %), in- terposition graft-autogenous- (5 patients-41.6 %), interposition graft-autogenous (5 patients-41.6) or ligation (2 pa- tients-16.6 %). Overall mortality was 25 % (3 patients). No late vascular sequelae occurred related to the vascular inju- ries in 2 patients, partial recovery in 1. But two patients who had a complete BPI showed no improvement in neurologic status even in long term. Thus, associated nerve injury and functional recovery are of prime interest to the vascular trauma surgeon.