title: Injury to the popliteal vessels: the Lebanese war experience.
abstract: Our experience with 118 patients who underwent surgery for a total of 178 popliteal vessels injuries is reported. Forty-nine per cent had injury to both artery and vein and 44% had associated bony fractures. Fourteen patients subsequently needed amputation for a rate of 11.9%. There were no deaths. Delay in repair (> 6 hours from injury), associated fractures, and a shocked condition resulted in increased limb loss. Arterial as well as venous repair, external skeletal fixation, and fasciotomy when necessary lead to improved limb salvage.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beruit Medical Center, Lebanon.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sfeir
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Fakih
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Khalifeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery