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 (P(t)O2) 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 (P(t)O2) 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.