ABSTRACT
Advances in vascular surgical techniques, anesthesia, angiography, blood transfusions combined with rapid evacuation from the field, and understanding of the principles of debridement and delayed primary closure allowed arterial repair to be successfully applied in the Korean conflict. The vasculature of the lower extremity is frequently involved in both military and civilian vascular trauma. There are several differences between vascular injuries due to civilian and military trauma. Vascular trauma of the lower extremity may result from either blunt or penetrating trauma. Iatrogenic injuries are becoming more frequent as a cause of vascular injury. This is a direct result of an explosive increase in the performance of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic vascular interventions. Contrast arteriography remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of vascular injuries of the lower extremity. Complications of vascular trauma of the lower extremity may result either from the injury itself or as a consequence of its management.
