title: Chronic ischaemic leg ulcer as a late complication of post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a late complication of vascular injury and can be presented with symptoms of congestive heart failure, venous hypertension and distal ischaemia. We present an unusual case of chronic ischaemic leg ulcer in young adult caused by post-traumatic AVF.  Case report A 29-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of chronic ulcer located on the lateral side of the lower left leg. Arterial pulses distally from the groin were absent. His medical history revealed him to have sustained gunshot injury of the left thigh in the war conflict 18 years before. Angiography showed a large AVF between superficial femoral artery and femoral vein. The patient underwent surgical repair of AVF with reconstruction of superficial femoral artery by saphenous vein interposition under spinal anaesthesia. Completion angiography confirmed AVF exclusion. Leg ulcer healed within a month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic leg ulcer may be the only symptom of large post-traumatic AVF in young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital ‘Merkur’, Zajceva, Zagreb.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suknaic
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erdelez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skopljanac
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sef
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Novacic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000293:injuries*; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D022125:Lacerations / Q000150:complications; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000150:complications*