Complicaciones de la arteria poplítea tras la artroplastia total de rodilla

Abstract

Arterial complications after total knee arthroplasty have an incidence of 0.25%, but the risk to the limb requires aggressive management. We present three cases of popliteal lesions after such surgery. One was a case of acute ischaemia due to popliteal thrombosis managed by an autologous vein by-pass. The second case consisted of a popliteal pseudoaneurysm with symptoms of knee pain and late functional impotence treated with a venous patch. The last case consisted of a non-occlusive intimal dissection managed with conservative treatment. In agreement with published data we believe that an early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of acute arterial thrombosis secondary to knee arthroplasty is necessary, surgical by-pass has the best results. Endovascular technics for popliteal pseudoaneurysm have good results, but due to the lack of long-term follow it is difficult to generalise their indication. Lastly, there is a group of non- occlusive, asymptomatic lesions which can be conservatively managed.