Pseudoaneurysms of the radial artery. Importance of microsurgery. Apropos of a case.

Following a case of pseudoaneurysm of the radial artery, curiously a rare pathological entity, the authors reviewed the literature, which consists of a maximum of 50 publicized cases. The arteriographic, plethysmographic and clinical studies as well as the anatomic and physiologic findings, all seem in favor of a treatment consisting of restoration of the vascular permeability of the principal arterial axes of the forearm (radial and ulnar arterial axes). Conservative treatment may expose the affected limb to a latent or immediate functional impotency, which may be more or less serious. The authors propose a microsurgical technique, with venous interposition grafting, for a better short or long term result, and also to replace the loss of substance secondary to the resected pseudoaneurysm.