Objective To present and summarize the data concerning the diagnosis and treatment of popliteal aneurysm in our hospital. Methods The data of popliteal aneurysm in our hospital from 1975 to 2004 were reviewed and analyzed. Eleven patients with 11 diseased limbs were treated, including 8 males and 3 females, age from 21 years to 64 years 〔(48.54±13.66) years〕. The combined diseases include syphilis, rheumatic heart disease and chronic obstructire pulmonary disease etc. Ten patients received operations, including endoaneurysmorrhaphy (n=4) and graft bypass after aneurysmal resection (n=6), through posterior approach (n=7) or medial approach (n=3). One patient, combined with advanced syphilis and heart failure, received conservative treatment because of his poor general condition. Results The common clinical manifestations included popliteal pulsating mass, claudication, difficulty in extension of the knee, pain etc. Acute ischemia occurred in 3 limbs. The diameter of popliteal aneurysms varied from 4-13 cm 〔（6.73±2.69) cm〕. There were 3 (27.3%) cases of ruptured aneurysms whose diameters were 7 cm, 7 cm and 11 cm respectively. Special examinations included arteriography and Doppler sonography. Pathological results of these patients were pseudoaneurysm (n=3), syphilitic aneurysm (n=3) and atherosclerotic aneurysm (n=4). Two patients were not followed up, and postoperative follow up of the other 8 patients ranged from 18 months to 30 years. In the group of endoaneurysmorrhaphy, postoperative gangrene of the affected limb occurred in one patient, and above-knee amputation was performed. One patient suffered from intermittent claudication in the group of endoaneurysmorrhaphy and of graft bypass respectively. No manifestations of limb ischemia were found in the other 5 patients during the time of follow up. Conclusion General utilization of Doppler sonography in screening high risk patients might be helpful to detect popliteal aneurysm. For symptomatic popliteal aneurysm or asymptomatic popliteal aneurysm with diameter larger than 3 cm, operation is indicated. Asymptomatic popliteal aneurysms no more than 3 cm in diameter could be monitored with care.
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 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.
Effective postoperative pain management in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty is an important part of the realization of enhanced recovery after surgery. Peripheral nerve block is of great significance to the control of postoperative pain, and clinicians are committed to finding a nerve block that has little impact on muscle strength and is conducive to the early recovery of motor function after total knee arthroplasty. Infiltration between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee block can selectively block the sensory branch of the posterior end of the knee joint without affecting the motor branch of the common peroneal nerve, so that the muscle strength can be minimally affected under the condition of adequate analgesia. This article reviews the proposal of infiltration between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee block, the approach and method of the block, and the advantages of combining with different nerve blocks for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty.