Injuries of the Limbs in Polytrauma: Upper and lower limbs

Extremity injuries are the second most common traumatic injuries after head injuries and account until 80% of all cases of vascular trauma. Peripheral injuries are usually not immediately lethal, whether due to penetrating or blunt injuries; nevertheless, a prompt identification of the injuries is crucial for a correct management. There has been a growing role for both diagnostic and interventional radiology (IR) in all types of trauma affecting different areas of the body, with imaging becoming an integral part of the multidisciplinary approach to modern trauma care. Nowadays, successful revascularization with limb salvage is almost routine, and ischemic limb loss has become the rare exception. Despite success in arterial repair, desirable outcomes with regard to extremity function and disability more often depend on successful identification and treatment of the frequent coexisting injuries to the bone, nerves, and soft tissue. The aim of this chapter is to focalize on injuries of the limbs in polytraumatic patient and to the decision processes associated with the workup and the endovascular interventions (EVIs) of these injuries.