Injury to popliteal vessels
R. C. Jaggers, D. V. Feliciano, K. L. Mattox, J. M. Graham and M. E. DeBakey
Between 1969 and 1981, 61 patients with 85 popliteal vascular injuries were
seen. In the nine patients who required amputation, common risk factors
included (1) extensive time delays (greater than 36 hours) between injury
and repair, (2) associated bone and soft-tissue injuries leading to
postoperative wound infection. amd (3) early occlusion of popliteal artery
repair or delay in performance of fasciotomy. The low amputation rate in
patients without operative delay or associated bone and soft-tissue
injuries (2/54 = 3.7%) was attributed to the careful application of
standard vascular surgery techniques in combination with early use of leg
fasciotomy when indicated. Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts as substitute
vascular conduits in the popliteal artery have an excellent patency rate
and seem to be an acceptable prosthesis when segmental resection of the
artery is necessary.
