Peripheral vascular injuries due to firearms in children.

Abstract

Vascular injuries caused by firearms are rare among children. In this paper we discuss the surgical methods of treating peripheral vascular injuries due to firearms in children. Forty-four patients with peripheral vascular injuries due to firearms were included in this retrospective study. The patients were under the age of 14 and treated in our clinic between January 1985 and December 2004. Vascular injuries due to firearms in children made up 4.9% of all cases of vascular trauma in our clinic. The male to female ratio was 38:6, and the age range was 3-14. The survival rate was 98% and the rate of limb salvage was 91%. For arterial and venous injuries, a saphenous vein interposition graft and interrupted sutures were often preferred surgically. Peripheral vascular injuries due to firearms in children and other accompanying traumas can be easily identified and treated, and have low morbidity and mortality with an acceptable limb salvage rate if a rapid and effective approach is used.