Treatment Approaches to Combined Orthopedic and Vascular Traumas: A Single-Center Experience

Orthopedic and vascular trauma can be clinically observed and have negative consequences if not treated appropriately. This study aimed to present the clinical experiences of the authors regarding vascular traumas in combination with extremity fractures or dislocations.

In total, 95 patients (78 males, 17 females, with the mean age of 34.7±5.6 years old) who underwent surgical treatment for combined orthopedic and vascular trauma between November 2012 and February 2020 were included in the study. Patients were retrospectively evaluated according to their clinical properties, treatment strategies, and results.

Traffic accidents were the most common reason for trauma with a rate of 36.8% (n=35). The most common orthopedic injury was seen in the femur, whereas the most common vascular injury was on the superficial femoral artery. The most commonly performed treatment methods for vascular and orthopedic trauma were primary repair and external fixation, respectively. Based on findings, the mortality and amputation rates were 2.1% (n=2) and 15.7% (n=15), respectively.

Combined orthopedic vascular traumas are less frequent than isolated vascular traumas, but they have higher mortality and amputation rates. In order to decrease mortality and amputation rates, communication should be perfectly coordinated between the emergency department and orthopedic and cardiovascular surgery clinics; moreover, urgent intervention is crucial.