Diagnosis of limbs and neck arterial trauma using duplex ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate duplex ultrasonography for diagnosis of arterial trauma in limbs and neck.


METHODS
Fifty-one wounds in 47 patients, with indication for arteriography, were prospectively studied and grouped according to the presence (PCS group: 21 wounds, 41.2%) or absence (ACS group: 30 wounds, 58.8%) of clinical signs of arterial injury. All underwent duplex ultrasonography and arteriography.


RESULTS
Arteriography disclosed arterial injury in 21 wounds, of which 19 were visualized by duplex ultrasonography. In the other 30 wounds neither methods disclosed any arterial injury. The sensitivity of duplex ultrasonography was 90.5%, the specificity was 100% and the accuracy was 96.1%. In PCS group duplex ultrasonography showed 14 injuries (93.3%) and one false-negative result, and in ACS group, five injuries (83.3%) and one false-negative result in the ACS group.


CONCLUSIONS
Duplex ultrasonography reproduces the results of arteriography as a non-invasive diagnostic method in trauma of the limbs and neck.
Kuzniec
S
S
Vascular Surgery Discipline of the Surgery Department, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil.
Kauffman
P
P
Molnár
L J
LJ
Aun
R
R
Puech-Leão
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex