PENETRATING INJURIES OF THE FEMORAL-ARTERY

This is a retrospective study of 106 patients with penetrating injurie s to the femoral artery. The cause of injury was gunshot in 82 per cen t, stabbing in 13 per cent and pellets in 5 per cent. We believe that angiography is unnecessary in patients with 'hard' signs of vascular i njury: 97 patients underwent immediate exploration with positive findi ngs. The presence of 'soft' signs alone mandates angiography as five o f 12 patients with suspected injury were saved a negative exploration. Proximity of injury was a poor predictor of arterial injury. There we re four amputations. Ligation of the femoral vein is not reliably asso ciated with amputation but it was an aggravating factor in the setting of severe arterial disruption and delay to surgery.