Indirect Popliteal Artery Transections in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty A Case Report

Abstract

Popliteal artery injury in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is rare but a devastating complication with consequence from transient bleeding to death. We report a case of 83-yearold woman suffering from an unusual early postoperative indirect popliteal artery transection in revision TKA for an infected knee. This injury was triggered by surgical correction of stiffened and distorted soft tissue, which resulted in excessive tensioning and eventual indirect transection of the artery. To avoid this devastating complication, early elimination of infection concomitant with perioperative maintenance of the normal anatomy of the knee is important.