Popliteal artery damage in closed injuries of the knee

Injury to the popliteal artery is reported in two patients with closed ligament injuries of the knee, and no fracture or dislocation. The importance of careful assessment of the circulation in this type of patient is emphasised.     

Popliteal artery aneurysms: a 25-year surgical experience

Operative repair was undertaken for 51 popliteal aneurysms in 39 patients between 1958 and 1990. Operation was performed on an emergency basis in 19 extremities with limb-threatening ischemia and as an elective procedure in 32 extremities. Cumulative limb salvage (94%) rates and patency rates (67%) became significantly different at 6 years (p less than 0.05). Graft patency was affected by clinical presentation and runoff. After 1 year, cumulative patency for extremities with limb-threatening ischemia was significantly lower than for those having an elective operation (69% vs 100%, p less than 0.05). Runoff did not influence graft patency until 3 years, at which time cumulative patency was better in extremities with good runoff than in extremities with poor runoff (89% vs 30%, p less than 0.05). Limb salvage was affected only by presentation. All limb loss (three patients) occurred within the first month in extremities with graft occlusion after operation for limb-threatening ischemia. Runoff did not influence patency rates for extremities with limb-threatening ischemia, since no difference was observed in runoff between the two groups. We conclude that elective repair is indicated in all patients with popliteal aneurysms. It is associated with little risk to the patient, and prevents the need for operation in the setting of limb-threatening ischemia with its poorer overall results and definite incidence of amputation.     

Popliteal artery injury: Royal Perth experience and literature review

BACKGROUND: Popliteal artery injury is uncommon but poses a significant challenge in Australian trauma care. Blunt trauma and knee dislocations appear to be associated with higher amputation rates. The aim of the present study was to review the authors' experience with this condition and discuss the best approach to investigation and management. METHODS: The medical records of all patients with popliteal artery injury (n = 19) who were entered prospectively onto the Royal Perth Hospital Trauma Registry from 1995 to 2003 were reviewed. Their demographic data, investigations, primary operative procedures, fasciotomy, primary and secondary amputation rates and mortality were determined. RESULTS: There were 17 male and two female patients with a median age of 34 years (range 17-62 years). Most patients (84%) were under 40 years in age. Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of popliteal artery injury (68.4%), and 84.6% of the patients had associated skeletal injury. The amputation rate in the present study was 26.3% (5/19). There were no intraoperative or in-hospital deaths. Three of 13 patients (23%) with blunt trauma underwent amputation, compared to two of six (33.3%) with penetrating injury. Two of three amputee patients in the blunt trauma group had dislocated knees. CONCLUSION: Despite technical improvements in management of popliteal artery injury, a high amputation rate is still seen, especially in patients with one or more of the following factors: extensive soft-issue injury, associated skeletal trauma, knee dislocation, and prolonged ischaemia time. Measures to reduce the amputation rate, ranging from more prompt diagnosis to modified surgical treatment techniques, are discussed.     

Earthquake injuries and the use of ketamine for surgical procedures: the Kashmir experience

The October 8, 2005 earthquake in Northern Pakistan had widespread destructive effects throughout the northern subcontinent. Large numbers of people were killed or severely injured and many medical services destroyed. This report describes the experience of the only standing surgical hospital in the Kashmir region of Bagh District. More than 1,500 people were triaged in 72 hours, many critically injured; 78.4% of patients had upper or lower limb injuries; 50.3% of patients had fractures, mainly closed; 37% of patients required extensive wound debridements. A total of 149 patients received emergency surgery using ketamine anaesthesia with benzodiazepine premedication. This was found to be safe, effective and with a low incidence of major adverse effects. We recommend that ketamine anaesthesia be encouraged in disaster area surgery, particularly in under-resourced regional centres.     

Popliteal artery injuries associated with fractures and dislocations about the knee

The authors present the results of a retrospective review of popliteal artery injuries associated with fractures and dislocations about the knee. They treated 41 patients with popliteal artery injuries associated with either fractures about the knee or knee dislocations. Thirty-five of the patients were males, 6 females; the mean age was 23 years. The delay before accessing the hospital was 17 hours (range: 3 hours to 10 days). Thirty-two fractures were open. Together with the vascular injury, 12 femoral fractures, 20 tibial and fibular fractures, 5 knee dislocations, 4 femoral + tibial fractures were identified. Twenty-three patients underwent external fixation, 8 internal fixation, 6 plaster cast immobilization, 4 minimal osteosynthesis and plaster cast immobilization. The arterial injury was treated by end-to-end anastomosis in 5 cases, saphenous vein anastomosis in 29 cases and thrombectomy in 7 cases. Nine patients were amputated. Delay in surgery, blunt trauma, extensive soft tissue defect and bone fracture or dislocation, are associated with high amputation rate following popliteal artery injury. The influence of each of these factors alone on the amputation rate could not be evaluated in this study, as no statistically significant correlation could be demonstrated.     

Popliteal artery injuries: civilian experience with sixty-three patients during a twenty-four year period (1960 through 1984)

Our experience with 63 patients who had popliteal artery injuries sustained in civilian accidents is reported. Blunt injuries occurred in 53 patients and 49 had associated skeletal injuries. Eighteen patients suffered knee dislocation; six of these patients had associated fractures. Fractures of the upper third of the tibia occurred in 21 patients. Five patients had irreversible ischemia and required primary amputation. Thirteen amputations were required in 58 patients in whom arterial repair was performed, for an amputation rate of 22%. There were no amputations in 19 patients treated less than 6 hours after injury was sustained. Four deaths occurred. Fasciotomy was performed in 20 patients. Skeletal injuries were usually treated with external fixation.     

Popliteal vascular injuries

Popliteal vascular injury remains one of the most difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for trauma surgeons. Only with strict attention to rapid diagnosis; early surgical treatment with meticulous technical skill; and aggressive use of various adjunctive measures, such as completion arteriography, anticoagulation, fasciotomy, and proper prioritization of management of multiple injuries, can limb salvage be optimized.     

Carotid artery injuries: experience with 124 cases

This is a retrospective study of 124 patients with carotid injuries. The common carotid artery was injured in 84% of the patients. Associated trauma to the internal jugular vein was present in 26%. Most patients (56%) were dead on arrival to the hospital and of those who were operated on, the mortality was 22% (overall mortality, 66%). All operative mortalities had severe shock or neurologic deficits on admission. We performed repair on all patients with preoperative neurologic deficits and the mortality was 64%. The use of a shunt did not influence the prognosis. We believe that there is no place for an emergency angiogram in order to diagnose a carotid injury or to plan the operation.     

Penetrating injuries of the popliteal artery: the Baragwanath experience.

This study describes the management of 43 patients with penetrating injury of the popliteal artery. Of these patients, 33 (76.5%) had bullet wounds, four patients (9.5%) pellet wounds and 6 (14%) knife wounds. Patients with 'hard' signs of arterial injury underwent exploration without preoperative angiograms. There were no negative explorations. Patients with only 'soft' signs of arterial injury underwent preoperative angiograms. Of this group, 75% had positive angiograms and underwent exploration. There were no false-positive or false-negative preoperative angiograms in the group of patients with 'soft' signs in this study. Definitive orthopaedic management of associated fractures followed vascular reconstruction. There was no difference in the short-term patency of autologous saphenous vein graft as against PTFE grafts. Fasciotomy was performed on patients who had arterial and venous injury or presented late. Overall amputation rate was 14% and for bullet injuries 18%.     

Popliteal artery entrapment

External compression of the popliteal artery is probably still underdiagnosed. Young patients with atypical claudication, with isolated popliteal changes, deserve thorough investigation. Subdividing the entrapment syndrome into three subgroups (I-III) highlights the clinically important characteristics of the different types. Delayed diagnosis leads to arterial occlusion with clinical and radiological resemblance to arteriosclerotic occlusive disease. At this stage a medial approach with reversed saphenous vein bypass is recommended. If the artery is still patent, a posterior S-shape approach offers good exposure for arterial decompression, rerouting and possible ancillary measures. In addition to reviewing the literature and outlining the classification criteria and surgical treatment, five cases of our own are presented including two rarities. In one both type I and type III existed simultaneously. In the other the popliteal artery entrapment was combined with cystic adventitial disease.     

Popliteal artery entrapment

The popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is usually limited to healthy young males and is due to an anomalous attachment of the gastrocnemius muscle. Two patients are presented and their treatment is discussed. The usual treatment is division of the entrapping muscle fibers. If arterial pulsations remain diminished, endarterectomy, bypass, or other surgical procedure is indicated to correct the popliteal arterial flow.     

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is a rare abnormality of the anatomical relationship between the popliteal artery and adjacent muscles or fibrous bands in the popliteal fossa. The following is a case report of a 19 year old female, in whom popliteal artery entrapment syndrome was diagnosed, and successfully treated surgically. A review of literature is also presented and provides details on how PAES is classified, diagnosed both clinically and radiologically, and treated surgically.     

Popliteal artery aneurysm.

Fourteen patients with atherosclerotic aneurysms of the popliteal artery, which were bilateral in 13, have been managed in a vascular unit where ultrasound, xerography, and isotope angiography are available for investigation. Although these methods are useful in confirming a suspected diagnosis, they cannot replace an awareness of the condition and clinical methods of examining the ischaemic lower limb. Reconstructive vascular surgery was effective in preserving the presenting leg in 5 cases and amputation was needed in 6, while no operation was needed in 3. Elective arterial surgery was carried out on the asymptomatic contralateral leg in 7 cases with good results and this active approach to treatment is recommended.     

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Popliteal vascular entrapment is second only to atherosclerosis as the most common surgically correctible cause of leg claudication in young adults. Affected patients are often athletic individuals who present before the age of 50. This chapter highlights the abnormal developmental anatomy that is now accepted as the cause of popliteal entrapment and serves as the basis for the modern classification system. The importance of the unique histopathological changes observed in arterial entrapment syndromes are summarized, and the natural history of chronic arterial compression is reviewed. The diagnosis, investigation, and treatment proposed are based upon the currently published literature.     

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome

Three cases of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, one of them bilateral, are presented with a review of the literature, with special reference to the embryological development of the popliteal space and the diagnostic and therapeutic problems presented by this syndrome.