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

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

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

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

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

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

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%)

Mechanism of Injury Penetrating trauma Blunt trauma Iatrogenic 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ! 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 !

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

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

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

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

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

Duplex vs Arteriography in Evaluating Iatrogenic Arterial Injuries in Dogs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Continued evaluation Circulation Neurologic function Compartment pressures

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

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

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

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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