Objective: To analyze retrospectively the surgical treatment of 21 cases of infected arterial injuries of the major limb hospitalized from 1989 to 2003 in our department.Methods: After a radical debridement and drainage, an autologous vessel bypass reconstruction, simple vessel ligation or amputation were carried out respectively according to each patients condition. In order to make a better milieu for the grafts, local musculo-cutaneous flaps were translocated to cover the wounds in 9 cases.Results : 1 case (4.8 % ) died during the treatment.5 cases ( 5/21, 23.8 %) underwent amputations. Blood supply reconstruction was successful in 15 cases (15/21,71.4 % ). 93.3 % ( 14/15 ) of the cases were successful in getting an unobstructed vessel at early stage. Thrombosis occurred in 1 case ( 1/15, 6.7 % ) and a sound result was obtained after a second operation.Conclusions: Radical debridement combined with bypass vessel reconstruction with autologous vein and with musculo-cutaneous flap translocation is an effective treatment for infective limb vascular injuries.