title: Popliteal artery injury after total knee arthroplasty.
abstract: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a commonly performed orthopedic procedure. The incidence of vascular complications after TKA is low. However, these complications may be debilitating, limb-threatening, and potentially avoidable. Our first patient, who had no preexisting vascular occlusive disease, developed an ischemic extremity after TKA. The second patient underwent TKA and was diagnosed with a severely ischemic limb 48 hours postoperatively. Both patients underwent above-knee to below-knee popliteal artery saphenous vein bypass grafting. Although limb salvage was obtained in both cases, one had a significantly neuropathic foot. In conclusion, long-term morbidity can be avoided by early identification and treatment of ischemia by bypass grafting.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19129, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mureebe
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gahtan
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kerstein
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000293:injuries*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology