[Arteriovenous fistula after osteosynthesis of upper and lower leg fractures]

Two cases of an arteriovenous fistula following osteosynthetic treatment of a distal fracture of the thigh and a fracture of the lower leg are described. A large AV-fistula between the popliteal artery and the popliteal vein resulted in aneurysmal dilatation of the iliac and femoral vessels 10 years later. The AV-fistula of the second case was small and the result of a large aneurysmal spurium in the proximal calf muscles which was discovered 6 years after the initial injury. The treatment course of the large AV-fistula was protracted. The surgical therapy of the large aneurysmal spurium with the small AV-fistula was uncomplicated.