Popliteal Artery Injuries

The clinical presentation and management of 20 popliteal artery injuries following penetrating and blunt trauına were rewiewed during the period 1990 to 1996 of at the Cardiovascular Surgery De-partment of the Medical Faculty of Karadeniz Tech-nical University. Clinical and Doppler evaluation identified arterial injury in 16 (%80 per cent) pa-tients. In four (%20 per cent) patients with arterio-venous fistula or false aneurysms pedal pulses were palpable during initial assesnıent. Autogenous vein grafting was used in 8 patient, PTFE prosthesis was used in 2 patients, a direct end-to- end anastomosis was succesful in 8 patients, trombectomy was done in 1 patient and lateral repair was done in 1 patient. As a routine repair of associated venous injuries, early fasciotomy were used. External, internal fi-xation, skeletal traction was done for compoutıd and comminuted fractures. The significant functional orthopedic disability following blunt arterial trauma at the knee is emphasized