title: Comparing color Doppler ultrasonography and angiography to assess traumatic arterial injuries of the extremities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic events are one of the major causes of arterial injuries. Physical examination is not a good predictor of the extent of injuries and arteriography is considered as the gold standard for this purpose. In the recent years, noninvasive modalities are increasingly replacing diagnostic arteriography. Color Doppler ultrasonography (USG) is an excellent method to investigate arterial diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of color Doppler USG compared to conventional angiography in traumatic arterial injuries of extremities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five patients with extremity trauma suspicious for arterial injury were examined by color Doppler USG just before angiography. Doppler pattern and flow states were assessed, then angiography was performed. The results of duplex USG were compared with angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Color Doppler USG had a sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 98% in diagnosis of arterial injury. Positive and negative predictive values of Doppler USG were 92.5% and 94.2%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Color Doppler USG can be used as a reliable modality with acceptable sensitivity and specificity values to screen hemodynamically stable patients with limb trauma suspicious for arterial injury.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Vascular and Endovascular Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezeshki Rad
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Vascular and Endovascular Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadifard
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Vascular and Endovascular Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ravari
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Vascular and Endovascular Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Donya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farrokh
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Vascular and Endovascular Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ansaripour
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Vascular and Endovascular Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saremi
keywords: Angiography; Blood Vessels; Color Doppler Ultrasonography; Trauma