False Aneurysm of the Radial Artery With Sharp Injury of the Brachial Artery, Median and Ulnar Nerves: An Unusual Presentation

摘要

Posttraumatic false aneurysms of the radial artery is a rare complication. We present a case of a false aneurysm in the radial artery concomitantly with complete cut-off of the brachial artery, median and ulnar nerves. A two cm diameter false aneurysm in the radial artery and an occlusion of the mid-portion of the brachial artery was as a consequence of direct surgical ligature of the cut ends observed on the angiogram. At surgery, the false aneurysm in the radial artery was excised followed by end-to-end anastomosis. Also end-to-end reversed arm vein interposition graft was performed to the brachial artery. Introduction Although traumatic injury of the brachial or radial artery is frequent, post-traumatic false aneurysm of the radial artery is a rare complication. False aneurysm formation often presents as a late complication of arterial injury. We present a case of false aneurysm of the distal radial artery concomitantly with complete cut-off of the brachial artery, median and ulnar nerves. Case Report A 17 year-old-man admitted with a little soft mass at the right wrist and an history of trauma to his right arm. The cause of the sharp injury was a broken glass three weeks ago. The accident resulted in a large injury which involved muscles, artery and nerves in the upper part of the right arm developed. In a local city hospital, the first intervention has been performed by a general surgeon and cut ends of the brachial artery were ligated. The patient had already been referred to a vascular surgery center. Because of lack of health insurance, he had declined to go to another hospital. Three weeks later, the patient came to our institute with a swelling of the right wrist. A large incision scar at the mid-medial arm, multiple small scars throughout the right arm due to lacerations and a soft, non-pulsatile mass which has eroded the skin partially at distal region of the forearm as just over the radial artery was observed in the physical examination. Mildly ischemic right hand, pulslessnes of the brachial, radial and ulnar arteries were also detected. There was a partial sensory-motor deficit of the right arm and electromyographic evaluation revealed that the median and ulnar nerves had no sensory-motor action potential. For preparation of the brachial artery reconstruction, a digital subtraction angiogram was performed to the patient. A 2 cm false aneurysm of distal radial artery and the occlusion of the mid-portion of the brachial artery was as a consequence of direct surgical ligature of the cut ends observed on the angiogram.