Supracondylar fractures with a pink hand: Beware the tear!

Aims: Supracondylar fractures of the humerus are common in children (17.9% of all paediatric fractures). A 10-year study demonstrated 10% of these result in vascular injury. Intimal tear leading to brachial artery thrombosis can initially be clinically occult as, at presentation, the vessel may not have occluded. The hand can be pink and well perfused, with or without absent pulses. We aim to demonstrate that close neurovascular observation is necessary even if the hand is pink and well-perfused.
Source: International Journal of Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: research