title: The surgical treatment of blunt and penetrating injuries of the popliteal artery.
abstract: Thirty-six patients sustaining blunt and penetrating injuries to the popliteal artery underwent vascular reconstruction with an average ischemic interval of eight and one-half hours (range: four to 14 hours). There were 16 associated venous injuries, 15 nerve injuries, and 20 fractures with or without knee dislocations. Arterial repair was performed by saphenous vein interposition graft in 23 patients and by end-to-end anastomosis in 16 patients (three patients had more than one operation). Eight of the venous injuries were reconstructed and the remaining eight veins were ligated. Fasciotomy was performed in 22 patients. Skeletal stabilization by external support was necessary in 12 instances and by internal fixation in eight patients. Five patients required amputation after vascular reconstruction failed. The presence of an ischemic interval greater than ten hours, associated fractures, and/or knee dislocation carried a serious prognosis for limb survival.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000293:injuries; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery