Knee dislocation. An illusive cause of critical arterial occlusion
E. A. Lefrak
Popliteal artery injury is a hazardous and often subtle complication of
traumatic knee dislocation. Review of the literature in which series of
knee dislocations were reported has revealed a 28% incidence of thrombosis
or rupture of this critical vessel. Fifty-seven percent of these patients
required leg amputation. The most frequent cause of limb loss has been
absence or delay of direct surgical repair of the associated popliteal
artery injury. This report describes a management plan that is intended to
minimize the likleihood of future disabling leg amputations following knee
dislocation.
