Popliteal vascular injuries and war: are Beirut and New Orleans similar?

Trauma to the lower extremity associated with fracture and vascular injury has a high reported incidence of limb loss. This study reviews and contrasts the experience at Tulane University affiliated hospitals (TU) and the American University of Beirut (AUB) (1980 to 1984), both of which are surrounded by hostile action. Seventy-six male patients (28--AUB, 48--TU) with an average age of 21.2 (TU) and 24.4 (AUB) years (range, 17 to 42) presented with popliteal artery injuries with (34 [14--AUB; 20--TU] ) and without (42 [14--AUB; 28--TU]) associated fractures. All patients were clinically evaluated, angiogrammed, begun on cephalosporin antibiotics, and operated upon. Fractures were treated with extraskeletal fixation or splinting. Time of initiation of operative therapy varied from less than one to greater than 12 hours. When necessary, contralateral limb reversed saphenous vein was used as an interposition graft. Fasciotomies were done for popliteal artery injuries with greater than 6 hours' ischemic time, and combined popliteal artery and popliteal vein injuries. Nine limbs of 76 at risk were amputated: 5/34 (2/14--AUB; 3/20--TU) with popliteal injuries and fractures, and 4/42 (1/14--AUB; 3/28--TU) with popliteal injuries and without fractures. Five of the amputated limbs had initiation of therapy at greater than 12 hours; three had initiation of therapy at greater than 8 hours. Good communication between surgeons, prompt fracture reduction, antibiotics, angiography, and total repair of the vascular injury resulted in limb salvage in 30/40 patients with popliteal artery injury and fracture, and in 39/42 patients with popliteal artery injury without fracture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)