[Bone fracture and vascular lesion (author's transl)].

Combined lesions of bone and blood vessels require a high degree of diagnostic skill and of therapeutic care (routine clinical examination of the vascular status and if necessary angiography). From a therapeutic point of view, all major vascular lesions proximal to the knee or elbow should have vascular continuity restored (artery and vein). Primary internal fixation of shortened long bones is an important technical principle which, in most cases, will allow direct vascular suture in a stable operating field.