Abstract
Twenty-three years old male who sustained accidental machine injury to his right upper extremity, resulting in practically complete discontinuity, visited Chonnam University Hospital on September 30th 1964.
Physical examination revealed fracture of left humerus, injury of brachial artery to venous channels, and almost complete laceration of all adjacent soft tissues, including muscles and skin. Three main nerves, radial, ulnar and median nerves, however, were found intact.
The repair and reconstruction in the following order; fixation of the fracture, end-to-end anastomosis of the brachial artery, debridement and realignment of the muscles and skin sutures. These surgical procedures were completed within 6 hours from the time of accident.
The arm was immobilized with shoulder spica cast for three months. The local circulation was recovered and the fracture healed completely, with restoration of the forearm and hand function but with sacrifice of the elbow and upper arm.
This report presents detailed clinical descriptions on a particular case of open humeral shaft fracture with major vascular injuries and general discussions on the methods of arterial anastomosis in the extremities.
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