[Aneurysm and axillary crutches].

Axillary crutches may injure the axillary artery. A 65-year-old woman with a leg length discrepancy of 30 cm subsequent to childhood poliomyelitis was seen for subacute ischemia of the right upper limb. Axillary aneurysm with thrombosis due to chronic use of axillary crutches was diagnosed after clinical examinations and surgery. Resection-graft of the aneurysm and thrombectomy was performed and restored patency. Axillary crutches may cause arterial stenosis or aneurysms. Aneurysms may be complicated by acute thrombosis, chronic or acute distal embolization, or axillary mass formation. Besides not using axillary crutches, surgical treatment of crutch-induced axillary aneurysm must be performed before sometimes definitive sequelae develop.