Emergency Bedside Sonographic Diagnosis of Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm With Brachial Plexopathy After Clavicle Fracture

Abstract

Clavicle fractures are common; however, complications are unusual. Two such complications, subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm and brachial plexopathy, are rare events that can cause significant morbidity and mortality. We report the case of a 53-year-old man who presented with shoulder swelling and right arm weakness for 1 week. Three weeks before, he had fallen and fractured his right clavicle. On presentation to our emergency department, his examination revealed a brachial plexopathy and a large supraclavicular mass. An emergency bedside triplex sonogram was performed to characterize the mass and revealed a swirling pattern within a fluid collection anterior to the subclavian artery, suggestive of a pseudoaneurysm. After computed tomography-angiography, the patient was taken to the operating room, where he underwent hematoma washout and subclavian artery stent-graft placement. This case illustrates how bedside point-of-care sonography can rapidly assist in the initial assessment of subclavian artery injury.