title: Civilian penetrating axillary artery injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The surgical management and outcome of penetrating axillary artery (AA) injuries is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting to Groote Schuur Hospital with penetrating AA injuries from January 2003 to December 2009 were reviewed. Demographic data, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, angiographic findings, surgical treatment, complications, and mortality were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight patients with AA injuries were identified from an operating trauma database. Stab and gunshot wounds accounted for 54 (79.4%) and 14 injuries, respectively. The mean Revised Trauma Score was 7.5 (range: 3.8-7.8). Angiography was done in 49 patients; false aneurysms (32) and total occlusions (15) were the two commonest findings. Primary repair of the injured AA was possible in 41 (60.3%) patients. Five AA (7.4%) injuries were ligated. Morbidity was restricted to associated brachial plexus injuries. The limb salvage rate was 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary repair of AA injuries was possible in 60% of patients, and ligation was life-saving in critically ill patients. The associated brachial plexus injury was the cause of major long-term morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Center-C14, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Hardeep
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edu
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bekker
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Nicol
authors.forename: Pradeep H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Navsaria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000601:surgery; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult