Arterial Trauma of Limbs in Patients under 18 Years Old at the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital Center: Epidemioclinical Aspects and Management

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to determine the epidemiological, clinical, etiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of limb arterial trauma in patients under 18 years old. Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted over 20 years, from January 2002 to December 2022, in the Department of Vascular Surgery at Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona University Hospital Center (CHUJRA). It included all patients under 18 treated for limb vascular trauma. Frequency, age distribution, and several other parameters were analyzed. Results: Forty-six (46) cases were recorded. Young males (mean age = 13.17 years) accounted for 91.30% of the cases. The most common etiology was civil responsibility accidents (65.22%). The emergency clinical presentation was dominated by hemorrhagic syndromes, present in all patients, with the brachial artery being the most affected (26.08%). Surgical intervention mainly involved vascular repair through direct sutures and end-to-end anastomosis. Conclusion: The management of vascular trauma remains a multidisciplinary challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings. Nevertheless, rapid and appropriate intervention can yield satisfactory outcomes.