A prognostic model for the risk of development of upper extremity compartment syndrome in the setting of brachial artery injury

Ann Plast Surg. 2009 Jan;62(1):22-7. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0b013e3181776327.

Abstract

A potentially devastating sequela of brachial artery injury in the setting of upper extremity trauma is the development of compartment syndrome (CS). We performed a retrospective review of 139 trauma patients with brachial artery injury from 1985-2001. Objective characteristics of each case were extracted and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Three variables were found to be significant in the final model: estimated intraoperative blood loss as a continuous variable, and presence of a multiple arterial injury and presence of an open fracture as categorical variables. Odds ratio were 1.12, 5.79, and 2.68, respectively. We used these variables to create a summative score for the development of CS with weights assigned proportional to the adjusted odds ratio. Odds of having CS for subjects in group 2 and group 3 are 5.3 and 15.1 times the odds for subjects in group 1, respectively. Applying multivariate regression analysis to the largest series of brachial artery injuries to date, we have developed a predictive scoring model of CS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arm / blood supply*
  • Brachial Artery / injuries*
  • Child
  • Compartment Syndromes / epidemiology*
  • Compartment Syndromes / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult