CASE-REPORT - THE ROLE OF ARTERIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH ISOLATED NEUROLOGICAL DEFICIT FOLLOWING A PENETRATING UPPER-LIMB INJURY

Two cases are described of patients who presented with isolated neurol ogical deficit following penetrating injury to the upper limb. Arterio graphy demonstrated brachial artery false aneurysm formation in each c ase. There are accepted indications for emergency angiography followin g stab wounds including pulse deficit, vascular bruit, expanding haema toma and hypotension with no obvious cause. Indirect indicators of vas cular damage include proximity of the injury to an artery with no phys ical signs or isolated neurological deficit. These indications do have a significant association with concurrent arterial injury and should be investigated by elective angiography if the patient is haemodynamic ally stable.