Factors Influencing Late Functional Outcome After Lower Extremity Vascular Injury

Background: The aim of the study is finding out factors influencing patients’ ability following surgical treatment of lower limb trauma combined with vascular injuries. Methods: Thirty five patients were treated by surgical vascular reconstructions. Sixteen of those patients (45.7%) underwent follow-up after a mean time lasting ab. 8 years. There were 14 men and 2 women who were subdued to examinations by means of the originally developed locomotion grading system (LGS). Results: Patients were scored at a mean value of 30.1 points, while the maximal value in the LGS is 40 points. Significant dependence has been found between the late functional outcome and the following factors: severity of injuries expressed in the Mangled Extremity Severity Score [MESS] (p<0.01), coexistence of other injuries [bone-fractures; joint dislocations; muscle, tendon and nerve injuries] (p<0.01), limb amputation (p<0.01), ischemia time (p<0.01), results recorded by the end of the hospitalization (p<0.01). Conclusions: Poor late functional outcome following lower limb vascular trauma is significantly influenced by the severity of injuries, coexistence of other soft tissue lesions, limb amputation and prolonged time of ischemia. Results recorded by the end of the hospitalization may be regarded as important predictors of the late functional outcome.