TRAUMATIC PSEUDOANEURYSM OF THE AXILLARY ARTERY FOLLOWING SHOULDER DISLOCATION

By means of a case report the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and prognosis of a pseudoaneurysm of the axillary artery after shoulder dislocation are demonstrated. The diagnosis of aneurysms of the axillary artery is difficult in some cases. It is important to mention a possible vascular injury in case of close reduction of the shoulder. Therefore in all patients with a penetrating or blunt trauma of the shoulder or the upper arm a thorough neurovascular examination is required. In patient with neurologic deficits or alteration of the pulse a duplex ultrasound examination should be performed and in dubious cases an additional arteriography is indicated.