Treatment strategies for soft tissue injuries associated with blunt brachial artery injury.

Introduction: Blunt brachial artery injuries (BAI) require reconstruction with an extensive vein graft due to the wide area of arterial damage. In the upper arm, safe options for pedicle flaps are limited, and selecting recipient vessels for free-flap surgery is challenging, complicating the treatment of soft tissue injuries associated with blunt BAI. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics and soft tissue reconstruction of blunt BAI and propose treatment strategies for treating associated soft tissue injuries.

Methods: Patients with blunt BAI who treated between August 2013 and April 2024 were included. Blunt BAI cases were classified into three groups (Type1A, Type1B, and Type2) based on soft tissue injury localization and elbow flexion reconstruction necessity. Patient demographics, treatment details, and treatment outcomes were investigated.

Results: Seven patients were included to this study. There were two cases of Type1A, three Type1B, and two Type2. Three cases of Type1B underwent soft tissue reconstruction using pedicled latissimus dorsi flap and concurrent reconstruction of the elbow flexion. One case of Type2 was treated with free latissimus dorsi flap using AV loop, and the remaining case of Type2 was performed forearm amputation.

Conclusion: This study examined the treatment details of seven patients with blunt BAI. If a soft tissue injury is localized to the upper arm, it can be treated with a pedicle flap. However, if the damage extends beyond the forearm, a free flap is essential and some ingenuity is required to select the recipient blood vessel.