title: Popliteal artery trauma: update and recent advances in management.
abstract: Management of vascular trauma has been standardized in the past two decades with a significant increase in limb salvage, but trauma to the popliteal artery still remains a challenge. A seven-year experience at San Bernardino County Medical Center was comprised of 20 popliteal artery injuries in 19 patients. Thirteen injuries (65%) were from blunt trauma, four injuries (20%) were from gunshot wounds, two injuries (10%) were from close-range shotgun blasts, and one (5%) was from a stab wound. Limb salvage was 100%. Liberal use of vein interposition grafts, routine intraoperative postreconstructive arteriogram, recognition of compartmental hypertension, and performance of fasciotomy were important steps taken to ensure a high limb salvage rate. Our standard technique at this time consists of repair of the artery with simultaneous repair of the dislocated knee and internal fixation of fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, California.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Gnanadev
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fandrich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000293:injuries*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000601:surgery*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000601:surgery*; D014951:Wounds, Stab / Q000601:surgery