Eur J Pediatr Surg 2013; 23(03): 251-253
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315806
Case Gallery
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

False Aneurysm of the Brachial Artery Secondary to K-Wire Fixation of a Supracondylar Fracture of the Humerus

Alberto Hernandez-Fernandez
1   Department of Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital Donostia, San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
,
Roberto Vélez
2   Department of Traumatology and Orthopedic Surgery, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
,
Francisco Soldado
3   Department of Hand and Microsurgery. Pediatric Orthopedics, ES Saúde Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
,
Cesar G. Fontecha
4   Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
,
Ignasi Barber
5   Department of Pediatric Radiology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
,
Marius Aguirre
4   Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

20 February 2012

21 April 2012

Publication Date:
07 July 2012 (online)

Conclusion

This report describes a case of false aneurysm of the brachial artery secondary to K-wire fixation in the setting of a supracondylar fracture in a child. This is the first reported case of false aneurysm in which the cause is attributable to the direction of the K-wires toward the anterior cortex of the humerus. The clinical presentation of a child with persistent swelling of the anteromedial area of the elbow can hide this complication.

 
  • References

  • 1 Reynolds RA, Mirzayan R. A technique to determine proper pin placement of crossed pins in supracondylar fractures of the elbow. J Pediatr Orthop 2000; 20 (4) 485-489
  • 2 Luria S, Sucar A, Eylon S , et al. Vascular complications of supracondylar humeral fractures in children. J Pediatr Orthop B 2007; 16 (2) 133-143
  • 3 Asavamongkolkul A, Ruangsetakit C. False aneurysm of the brachial artery in supracondylar fracture treated with Kirschner wire fixation: a case report. Injury 2001; 32 (3) 256-257
  • 4 Crawford DL, Yuschak JV, McCombs PR. Pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery from blunt trauma. J Trauma 1997; 42 (2) 327-329
  • 5 Got C, Tan TW, Thakur N, Marcaccio Jr EJ, Eberson C, Madom I. Delayed presentation of a brachial artery pseudoaneurysm after a supracondylar humerus fracture in a 6-year-old boy: a case report. J Pediatr Orthop 2010; 30 (1) 57-59
  • 6 Demircin M, Peker O, Tok M, Ozen H. False aneurysm of the brachial artery in an infant following attempted venipuncture. Turk J Pediatr 1996; 38 (3) 389-391
  • 7 Dogan OF, Demircin M, Ucar I, Duman U, Yilmaz M, Boke E. Iatrogenic brachial and femoral artery complications following venipuncture in children. Heart Surg Forum 2006; 9 (4) E675-E680
  • 8 Dzepina I, Unusic J, Mijatovic D, Bulic K. Pseudoaneurysms of the brachial artery following venipuncture in infants. Pediatr Surg Int 2004; 20 (8) 594-597
  • 9 Gow KW, Mykytenko J, Patrick EL, Dodson TF. Brachial artery pseudoaneurysm in a 6-week-old infant. Am Surg 2004; 70 (6) 518-521
  • 10 Shrader MW. Pediatric supracondylar fractures and pediatric physeal elbow fractures. Orthop Clin North Am 2008; 39 (2) 163-171 , v
  • 11 Yildirim S, Nursal TZ, Yildirim T, Tarim A, Caliskan K. Brachial artery pseudoaneurysm: a rare complication after haemodialysis therapy. Acta Chir Belg 2005; 105 (2) 190-193
  • 12 Yilmaz M, Dogan OF, Tok M , et al. Pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery in two infants following accidental arterial puncture. Vasa 2005; 34 (3) 198-200