[Late diagnosis of a traumatic pseudo-aneurysm of the subclavian artery].

The authors report a rare case of subclavian pseudoaneurysm diagnosed six months after a left clavicular fracture. The leading symptoms were pain and claudication in the left arm related to peripheral embolization. The essential diagnosis was made by selective arteriography followed by arterio-CT. Peripheral embolization or brachial nerve compression are the most common presentations of subclavian pseudoaneurysms. To avoid such late complications, the authors emphasize the importance of the initial vascular examination of the shoulder after blunt trauma with or without clavicular fracture. Surgery is imperative and the use of autologous vein graft is the method of choice.