Popliteal and infrapopliteal arterial injuries. Differential management and amputation rates

A 3-year clinical experience is analyzed to define preferred surgical management and amputation rates for popliteal as well as infrapopliteal arterial injuries. Ten patients with popliteal arterial trauma were successfully managed without amputation, however, five of 11 (45%) patients with infrapopliteal arterial trauma required amputation. While essentially all popliteal arterial injuries mandate repair, recommendations for repair or ligation of isolated tibial arterial injuries are based on presence of distal ischemia, the patient's associated injuries, as well as estimated operating time for reconstruction. With injury to two or three infrapopliteal arteries, distal ischemia is usually present and arterial repair indicated, unless there has been severe crush injury, prolonged delay, or extended surgery would jeopardize the patient's life. A management protocol for patients with distal ischemia related to popliteal or infrapopliteal arterial trauma should include prompt surgical intervention, liberal use of fasciotomy, intraoperative arteriography, as well as the selective use of intraluminal shunts.