Severe contusion of the femoral vessels in rats alters tissue oxygenation and microvascular blood flow regulation in the skeletal muscles of the limb.
BACKGROUND: Severe contusion of an artery often presents clinical problems in that it affects flow distal to the injury. However, the effect of a contusion on the microvascular flow regulation in the distal part of the limb is still largely unknown. METHODS: A multipoint microelectrode technique was used to assess both tissue oxygenation (PtO2) and microflow (hydrogen clearance) on the skeletal muscle surface in a standard contusion injury to the femoral vessels in rats. RESULTS: A significant increase in and an altered distribution of (PtO2) as well as a reduction in and altered distribution of microflow on the muscle surface distal to the injury was found in all animals (n = 27) compared with the uninjured control leg. These findings could not be reproduced experimentally by sympathectomy or when the adjacent skeletal muscle alone was injured. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the changes observed distal to the injury are of vascular origin, possibly as a result of endothelial damage at the site of the contusion.