APPLIED ANATOMY OF ENLARGED MEDIAL APPROACH TO POPLITEAL ARTERY AND ITS CLINICAL APPLICATION FOR CLOSED POPLITEAL ARTERY TRAUMA

Objective To assess the clinical application of enlarged medial approach to popliteal artery for its closed trauma. Methods On 10 lower-limb samples of adult cadavers perfused with red emulsion, the relation of popliteal arteries and their surrounding structures with enlarged medial approach were observed. The approach was applied for 12 patients with closed popliteal artery injury. Results The total length of popliteal artery, its branches and femoral-popliteal stretch, as well as its surroun-ding structures were fully exposed through the enlarged approach. The 12 patients with popliteal artery trauma were operated on through this approach, and, meanwhile, other complicated injuries managed with no needs of changing the body position. Post-operatively, the function of injured extremity was normal. Conclusion Enlarged medial approach is an ideal way of surgery for closed popliteal artery trauma.