title: Medial approach for popliteal artery injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical application of the medial approach for repairing popliteal artery injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2002 to 2008, 11 cases of popliteal artery injuries had been repaired via the medial approach. Of these cases, 8 had limb fractures, 1 had knee dislocation, and 2 had visceral injuries. Ten popliteal arteries were anastomosed directly while one was repaired with a great saphenous vein graft.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operation time ranged from 3 to 4 hours (averaging 3.6 hours). All the injured limbs survived. At the follow up, 8 legs recovered the full function, 2 had minor contracture, and 1 serious Volkmann's contracture without amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The medial approach for repair of the popliteal artery is effective, applicable, and more advantageous to the management of multi-injures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Kunming General Hospital, Chengdu Military Command, Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Yue-liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yong-qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery