Popliteal artery injury associated with dislocation and fracture around the knee

[Objective]To analyze the early diagnosis and treatment of the popliteal artery injury associated with the dislocation and fracture of the knee.[Method]A total of 71 cases of popliteal artery injury associated with the dislocation and fracture of the knee were treated from March 1998 to May 2005.Properative(vascular examization) and operative(methods of arterial repair,venous repair-ligation,anticoagulation-thrombolytic therapy,fracture reduction and internal fixation,fasciotomy) treatment were studied.[Result]Totally 15 cases were primary amputation and 56 cases were performed vascular repair and the fractures and dislocations were reduced and fixed by internal or external fixation.Two cases had thrombosis at the repaired site confirmed by Doppler and had to perform second operation to remove thrombus and repair the popliteal by autograft of the saphena magna vein.At the follow-up,2 cases had chronic osteomyelitis and 2 cases had traumatic arthritis.[Conclusion]It is postulated that a rational and prompt diagnosis and treatment of popliteal artery injury associated with dislocation and fracture around the knee would decrease the adverse effects of ischemia and reduce the overall morbidity.