Acute limb ischemia from gunshot wound secondary to arterial vasospasm

Abstract

Gunshot wounds are rising in incidence, morbidity, and mortality. It is thought that about half of nonfatal injuries occur in an extremity. Although the incidence is not known, arterial vasospasm can result in acute limb ischemia. We present the case of a 33-year-old man who suffered a gunshot wound to the left lower extremity resulting in arterial vasospasm of the superficial femoral artery. He quickly regained arterial flow, and we were able to manage his acute limb ischemia nonoperatively and to document restoration of flow through serial examinations and Doppler imaging. He was subsequently discharged the next day and is experiencing a full recovery. Keywords: Vasospasm, Acute limb ischemia, Gunshot wound, Trauma, Management