BRACHIAL-ARTERY LACERATION WITH CLOSED POSTERIOR ELBOW DISLOCATION INAN 8 YEAR-OLD

Elbow dislocations are relatively uncommon in children. Rupture of the brachial artery associated with closed elbow dislocations in children is rare. This is a report of an 8-year-old boy, the youngest patient ever to be reported to have a closed posterior dislocation of the elbo w associated with a brachial artery laceration. The boy incurred a clo sed elbow dislocation after a fall onto his outstretched arm. On physi cal examination, both radial and ulnar (ulnar) pulses were absent. Rad iographs showed a posterolateral dislocation of the right elbow and di stal fractures of the radius and ulna. Operative exploration of the an tecubital fossa showed complete transection of the brachial artery. Re pair of the vessel was performed using an interposition vein graft. Th e distal forearm fractures were managed by closed reduction. At the tw o-year postoperative follow-up examination, the patient had a normal n eurovascular examination with full range of motion of his elbow and wr ist. Surgical treatment should include exploration of the antecubital fossa and reconstruction of the injured vessels.