Subclavian artery aneurysm due to clavicle fracture.

BACKGROUND

Aneurysms of the subclavian artery (SA) are rare, but they can present with devastating consequences that may lead to loss of the limb. We present a case of symptomatic posttraumatic aneurysm of the left SA in a 67-year-old woman.

METHODS

A 67-year-old woman presented to our vascular unit with a history of sudden pain in her left hand, forearm, and shoulder, together with vasomotor changes. A chest radiograph revealed a fracture of the left clavicle because of a car accident that took place 17 years ago, and the digital subtraction angiography revealed presence of an aneurysm of the left SA right below the fracture of the clavicle. Surgical treatment of the aneurysm included excision and ligation of the SA which gave excellent results.

CONCLUSION

Thus, an individually tailored treatment is mandatory for the very rare pathology of SA aneurysms.