title: [Popliteal vascular trauma].
abstract: 6 cases of popliteal vascular trauma are presented, 3 due to posterior dislocation of the knee and 3 due to crush injury. The patients were referred from another hospital and some had undergone unnecessary angiography when ischemia was present, leading to delay in surgery. All patients presented with distal ischemia and underwent reconstructive surgery; 2 subsequently underwent below-knee amputation because of irreversible ischemia and sepsis. Urgent operation for popliteal vascular trauma is necessary whenever there is ischemia and intraoperative angiography may be necessary. There should be reconstruction of the artery and vein when there is concomitant venous damage, and fasciotomy and debridement are important. The harmful potential of occult popliteal vascular injuries and their ostensible mild presentation present a challenge for the emergency room surgeon.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Vascular Surgery, Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson Campus), Petah Tikva.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Avrahami
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Watemberg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stelman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dahn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zelikovski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps