Outcomes after Arterial Reconstruction with Autogenous Vein Graft for Limb Salvage in Traumatized Extremity

Abstract

Purpose: The patients with major vascular injuries in the traumatized extremity and underwent arterial reconstruction using autogenous vein grafts for limb salvage. This study aims to report the outcomes of arterial reconstruction with autogenous vein graft in patients.Methods: From February 2015 to April 2017, a study was retrospectively analyzed 13 patients with limb injuries caused by significant arterial damage and underwent arterial reconstruction using vascular autografts for limb salvage. Such as cause, Mangled Extremity Severity Scores (MESS), ischemic time, length of the grafted vein, reconstructed arterial status, and survival status were analyzed. Results: Among the patients analyzed, nine patients’ injuries were caused by traffic accidents and three industrial accidents, one fall down. Mean MESS was 6.2 (range, 5–8) and mean ischemic time was 12.3 hours (range, 5–25 hours). As arterial reconstruction, seven patients underwent posterior tibial artery reconstruction, three underwent popliteal artery reconstruction, two underwent anterior tibial artery reconstruction, and one underwent radial artery reconstruction; the greater saphenous vein was grafted in 12 reconstruction cases. Mean length of the grafted vein was 4.9 cm (range, 3–10 cm). All patients have salvaged injured limbs.Conclusion: Artery reconstruction using autogenous vein graft is an efficient treatment method when vascular damage cannot be directly repaired during limb salvage.