Closed Humerus Shaft and Distal Humerus Fractures with associated Brachial Artery Thrombosis in Adult Patients and its Management -A Case Series

The humerus fractures can present as isolated or associated with other injuries and these fractures can be associated with both primary and secondary iatrogenic or traumatic neurovascular injuries. The timely management of these injuries helps in preventing catastrophic consequences. Two cases of humerus fractures were presented with brachial artery thrombosis. First case is 56-year-old female with distal humerus fracture and second is 32-year-old female with humerus shaft fracture. Both the patients had feeble pulse at the time of presentation. Urgent CT angiography of the upper limb was performed and vascular surgeon intervention was taken. First case showed complete non opacification of distal brachial artery due to thrombosis, which was managed with bicolumnar plating with embolectomy. The second case of humerus shaft fracture showed non contrast opacification at the fracture, which was managed with intramedullary nailing with removal of the bony fragment impinging on the artery and embolectomy. Postoperatively, both the patients are having good functional and radiological outcome without any complications. Proper early clinical evaluation for vascular deficits helps to prevent the delayed diagnosis and radiological investigations helps to identify the cause and location of the vascular insults. Early surgical intervention in association with vascular surgeons helps in getting better outcome and prevents complications related to vascular injuries.