title: Traumatic arterial spasm causing transient limb ischaemia: a genuine clinical entity.
abstract: Traumatic arterial spasm is a phenomenon that has long been questioned by clinicians. Indeed, some would argue that surgical exploration is mandatory whenever there are signs of distal ischaemia following limb trauma. We present a case of angiographically demonstrated tibial artery spasm following gunshot injury. Exploration was unnecessary and distal perfusion was reestablished spontaneously. This case demonstrates the existence of traumatic arterial spasm as a genuine clinical entity and suggests that immediate surgical exploration may not be necessary in all cases.
authors.affiliation: Regional Vascular Unit, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare Trust, London, UK. george_peach@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peach
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Antoniou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: El Sakka
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamady
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications*