Blunt Popoliteal Artery Injury without Fracture or Dislocation

Abstract

Popliteal artery injury is most often associated with knee dislocation or fractures near the knee joint. Of the 143 cases of popliteal artery injury caused by trauma, that were previously reported in Japan, only 15 occurred without dislocation or fracture. A 47-year-old man with an isolated crush injury of the right lower limb, was transported to our hospital. He complained of pain and tenderness in the right femoral and popliteal region. Distal arterial pulsations in the right popliteal artery were absent and an adventitial hematoma of the right popliteal artery and muscle crush injury around the right knee, were seen on computed tomography. No fractures around, or dislocation of the right knee joint were detected. The patient was successfully treated with a right femorotibial bypass using saphenous vein graft. Prompt evaluation for artery injury is recommended in the patients with blunt knee trauma, especially in the absence of knee dislocation or fracture. Revascularization should be performed as required.