The Bicipital Aponeurosis May Be Involved in the Anatomical Etiology of Arterial Compromise After Swelling in Supracondylar Fracture

Abstract

A 7-year-old girl presented with a Gartland grade III supracondylar fracture and no radial pulse. After open reduction, it was established that the brachial artery was free of the fracture site; the limb however remained nonviable. The brachial artery was then approached anteriorly and the bicipital aponeurosis was seen to kink the artery. Once the bicipital aponeurosis was released and the remaining spasm treated with arteriotomy and papaverine, a good pulse returned. Despite the fracture being reduced and the artery remaining free of it, there remained a structural impediment to flow in the brachial artery. If the pulse does not return after fixation of a supracondylar fracture, then exploration of the brachial artery is indicated. When a patient is taken to the operating room for fixation of a supracondylar fracture, the facilities and expertise to explore the brachial artery must be made available. In centers where an on-call vascular service is not available, we recommend that the orthopaedic training programs give consideration to including "exploration of the brachial artery" as a facet of orthopaedic surgical training.