J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1978 Jun;13(2):161-166. 10.4055/jkoa.1978.13.2.161.

Vascular Injuries Associated with the Fractures About the Knee

• Lee JY
• Yoo CI
• Lee CS

• KMID: 2460377
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1978.13.2.161

Abstract

Fractures about the knee including the distal femur and the proximal tibia not infrequently result in vaseular injuries of the popliteal artery and the distal part of the femoral artery. This is often followed by circulatory disturbance and jeopadizes the viability of the lower extremity. During the three and a half year period, from January 1973 to June 1976, 20 cases of vascular injuries complicated by fractures about the knee were treated at the Orthopedic Department of Busan National University Hospital. Review of the cases resulted in the following observations. 1. The lower extremity escaped amputation in 45% the cases (9 of the 20 cases) 2. Femoral arteriography showed that the site of injury was proximal to the Soleus insertion. in 17 cases. 3. Types of vascular injury were contusion in 9 cases, laceration in 7 and total disruption in 4. 4. 5 of the 6 extremities that were treated within 12 hours after injury survived, while only 2 out of t he 9 extremities treated after 24 hours following injury escaped amputation. 5. 6 of the 13 extermities (46%) tredted by interval fixation survived, while 1 out of 5 extremities (20%) treated by traction escaped amputation.

MeSH Terms

Amputation
Angiography
Busan
Contusions
Extremities
Femoral Artery
Femur
Knee*
Lacerations
Lower Extremity
Orthopedics
Popliteal Artery
Tibia
Traction
United Nations
Vascular System Injuries*