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Popliteal Artery Entrapment within a Tibial Plateau Fracture: A Case Report
Jason R Coffman1, David C Moffatt2, Mark A Foreman1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
JBJS Case Connector
|October 6, 2021
Summary
Tibial plateau fractures can cause dysvascular limbs due to artery dissection or rare entrapment. This case highlights arterial entrapment as a critical, though uncommon, complication of these fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Tibial plateau fractures are complex injuries often associated with vascular complications.
- Dysvascular limbs in fracture settings are typically caused by arterial dissection.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old male presented with a left tibial plateau fracture.
- The patient developed a dysvascular limb secondary to left popliteal artery entrapment.
- The entrapment occurred within the fracture site after external fixation and stent placement.
Findings:
- This case demonstrates arterial entrapment as a rare mechanism for dysvascular limb in tibial plateau fractures.
- Popliteal artery entrapment within the fracture site is an uncommon but significant finding.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering arterial entrapment in managing tibial plateau fractures with vascular compromise.
- Emphasizes the need for thorough vascular assessment in high-energy lower-extremity trauma.
- Informs surgical strategies for preventing and treating vascular complications in tibial plateau fractures.
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