Objective To summarize the experience in treatment and diagnosis of popliteal artery trauma and to determine the factors for amputation. Methods From February 1995 to January 2006, 28 patients with popliteal artery trauma were treated. The disease course was more than 8 hours. Of them, there were 25 males and 3 females, aging from 3 to 53 years. Trauma was caused by traffic accident in 12 cases, by falling from height in 3 cases, by firearm in 2 cases, by sharp instruments in 3 cases, by strangulation in 2 cases and by others in 6 cases. No arteriopalmus or weak arteriopalmus wereobserved in 18 cases and in 8 cases respectively. Popliteal artery exposure or active bleeding was seen in 2 cases; the popliteal arteries were examined by operation in 8 cases; color ultrasound Doppler flow imaging showed color flood flowsignals were through popliteal artery and its branches in 20 cases. Defect sizeof popliteal artery was less than 5 cm in 7 cases and more than 5 cm in 9 cases. End to end anastomosis reconstruction by saphenous vein graft and direct suture was performed in 16 cases and ampulation in 12 cases. The time of the revascularization of the leg was 8-150 hours (mean 31.8 hours). Results All patients were followed up 6 months to 11 years with an average of 4.2 years. In 16 cases given end to end anastomosis reconstruction, 15 cases achieved revascularization and limb survival; lower limb function restored to normal within 1 year in 12 cases; foot drop and ankle joint contracture occurred in 3 casesand the survival rate of limbs was 94%. Amputation was given in 12 of 28 casesbecause of severe trauma. The rate of amputation was 43% and the rate of disability was 54%. Conclusion Popliteal artery trauma should be treated as soon as the diagnosis is made. If the revascularization is more than 8 hours or circulatory compensation is not complete, it will affect the leg survival. Delayed diagnosis and severe traumas are the cause of high rate ofamputation in popliteal artery trauma.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the rate of salvage of lower limb with long-time injury of popliteal artery. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with injury of popliteal artery were treated. The interval between injury and repair of artery ranged from 12 hrs to 48 hrs. The essences of operation were thorough debridement of the ischemic and necrotic muscles, primary suture of wound, and repair of popliteal artery on the basis of reduction and fixation of fracture. RESULTS: The limb salvage were achieved in 19 cases. The saved limbs could fulfill the basic function of walk. CONCLUSION: Thorough debridement of ischemic and necrotic muscle and primary suture of wound were reasonable methods which could treat long-time injury of popliteal artery without amputation.
Objective To investigate theory guidance for preoperative appraisal of advanced stage lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans and clinical application of arteriae surales. Methods From September 2007 to June 2008, one hundred cases without obviously arteriosclerosis were collected to accepted color Doppler ultrasonography, and parameters of the arteriae surales were observed， such as location, macro-body morphous, caliber, and blood parameters value, meanwhile the caliber and blood parameters value of anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery were also measured. Results Detection rate of arteriae surales was 96% (96/100). Arteriae surales located midpiece sequentiae of popliteal fossa, and above flatfish tendinous arch, which in 89 cases were geminous branched from popliteal artery; in the remaining 7 cases, popliteal artery diverged a bole, walked 1-3 cm, then diverged two branches and ingressed gastrocnemius. Diameter and cross section area of arteriae surales were smaller than those of anterior tibial artery and posterior tibial artery (P＜0.05）, but peak flow rate of systolic phase, maximum positive direction flow rate of relaxing period and mean flow rate were not significantly differents between arteriae surales and anterior tibial artery or posterior tibial artery （P＞0.05）. The flow of geminous arteriae surales was 63.1% of anterior tibial artery, and 59.1% of posterior tibial artery. Conclusion Through the ultrasonic study, it is significant for clinical therapy to master the normal anatomy, blood parameters value and flow of arteriae surales.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of free popliteal artery cutaneous branch flap anastomosed with lateral tarsal artery and vein for the repair of wound on the foot and ankle by anatomical observation and clinical application. MethodsLatex was poured into the blood vessels of 8 cadavers, then perforator vessel of posterolateral upper calf was dissected, and the popliteal artery cutaneous branch flap was designed with a pedicle of 2.5 cm in length; the lateral tarsal artery of the foot was dissected, could be freed to 6 cm in length; the diameter of these vessels was measured, and the number of the accompanying veins was counted. Between March 2010 and January 2013, 13 cases of foot and ankle wounds were repaired with popliteal artery cutaneous branch flap anastomosed with lateral tarsal artery and vein. The size of flaps ranged from 6.0 cm×4.0 cm to 7.5 cm×5.5 cm. There were 11 males and 2 females, aged from 41 to 65 years (mean, 47.3 years). The causes of injury included traffic accident in 8 cases, crushing in 4 cases, and twist by machine in 1 case. The size of wounds, ranged from 5.0 cm×3.5 cm to 7.0 cm×5.0 cm. The donor sites were sutured directly. ResultsAccording to anatomical observation, the popliteal artery cutaneous branch flap was designed by using the lateral popliteal artery perforator for shaft. The vessel of the pedicle perforator flaps from the popliteal artery cutaneous branch flap matched well with the lateral tarsal artery. Clinical results: vascular crisis occurred in 2 flaps, which survived after symptomatic treatment; the other flaps survived, with primary healing of wound and incision at donor site. The patients were all followed up 5-18 months (mean, 11 months). The flap had normal color and good elasticity. Second stage operation was performed to make the flap thinner in 3 female patients because of bulky flaps. The remaining patients had no obvious fat flap. According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score for evaluation of the ankle function at 6 months after operation, the results were excellent in 7 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 92.3%. ConclusionFree popliteal artery cutaneous branch flap anastomosed with lateral tarsal artery and vein for the repair of wound on the foot and ankle is simple and effective. The donor site is hidden.