[Acute trauma to the popliteal artery]

In spite of the advances in reconstructive vascular surgery, acute trauma of the popliteal artery still results in a high percentage of amputations, around 30%. In a series of 33 traumas of the popliteal artery, at la Salpetriere Hospital, a marked predominance of contusions (28 cases) was recorded, with osteoarticular lesions representing the most frequent cause of these contusions. Two injured patients died at an early stage and 9 underwent an amputation. 22 injured patients were reconstructed and the immediate result was satisfactory. The need for early treatment, rapid transfer of the injured, admission to a specialized vascular surgery department and short but effective investigations, should be emphasized. From a therapeutic standpoint, venous repair is advisable and orthopaedic reconstruction must precede arterial repair. A venous graft is most often used for that purpose in cases of contusion, or resection-anastomosis in clean side-arm wounds.