PSEUDOANEURYSM AFTER PENETRATING TRAUMA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Background: Although skin lacerations are common in children and adole scents, the complication of pseudoaneurysm (PA) has rarely been report ed. Methods: The author reports a series of four cases of patients in whom PA developed after lacerations. The diagnosis was made on the bas is of the history and clinical findings in all cases. Doppler ultrasou nd confirmed the diagnosis in two cases. Resection of the aneurysm was the treatment in each. Results: Each of the patients had successful r emoval of his lesion. One patient with a radial artery PA underwent re section without reconstruction; he remains free of claudication and ha s symmetrical upper extremities. Conclusions: Pseudoaneurysms are unco mmon sequella of lacerations. In children, resection is satisfactory t reatment when adequate collateral flow can be demonstrated. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.