title: Axillary artery dissection after scapular fracture.
abstract: Blunt shoulder trauma rarely causes damage to either arteries or nerves. Neurovascular structures are covered by muscles and protected by the surrounding bones deep in the axilla. We report a case of a 34-year-old male motorbike driver referred to us 5 hours after injury. Standard X-ray of the left shoulder revealed multipart fracture of the left scapula, and angiography showed that the first segment of the left axillary artery was dissected proximal to the minor pectoral muscle. Urgent diagnosis using imaging techniques and restoration of blood flow using open or endovascular repair are crucial for optimal outcome. Damage to the nerves predicts the final functional outcome regardless of prompt revascularization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia. ivancvjetko@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cvjetko
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staresinic
authors.forename: Dubravko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hlevnjak
authors.forename: Bore
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakota
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dovzak
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009049:Motorcycles; D011859:Radiography; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D012540:Scapula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057772:Vascular System Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery