title: The effect of total knee arthroplasty on lower limb blood flow.
abstract: Acute arterial injury at the time of total knee replacement (TKR) is a rare occurrence. We questioned whether TKR could exacerbate preexisting atherosclerotic disease causing chronic limb ischemia. Thirty-three patients undergoing unilateral TKR had the peripheral arterial supply of both legs assessed 2 weeks before and 6 weeks after the operation using various methods. Although a statistically significant reduction in the velocity ratio was measured in the trial leg, 0.92 (0.33) as compared to the control, 1.11 (0.46) (P = .0002) this was not found to be clinically significant when the minimum popliteal artery diameter of the trial limb, 6.23 (1.32), was compared with the control, 6.28 (1.27) (P = .8246). Neither were significant reductions in arterial waveforms or ABPIs measured in the trial legs preoperatively, 0.97 (0.20), and postoperatively, 0.93 (0.27) (P = .2793). TKR does not impair the arterial supply of the limb at 6-week postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Medway Maritime, Hospital, Gillingham, Kent, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nick K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Appleyard
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Ashraf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bassilly
authors.forename: Wei Fong
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013997:Time Factors