Successful repair of complete popliteal artery rupture due to blunt trauma

Abstract

Although blunt trauma of the extremities is a common diagnosis in emergency clinics, blunt vascular trauma may be difficult to diagnose in such patients. Time to repair is determinative for the success of vascular repair following vascular trauma. Late diagnosis or repair may result in neurological damage or even the loss of an extremity. This case report presents a 43-year-old male who sustained a blunt trauma to the right lower extremity resulting in the complete rupture of the popliteal artery. Although successful vascular repair with end-to-end anastomosis prevented the loss of the extremity, late diagnosis of the vascular injury caused postoperative mild neurological sequela in this case.