The “Real” Incidence of Popliteal Artery Injury After Knee Dislocations and Fractures

Abstract

Popliteal arterial injury (PAI) after knee trauma is associated with an increased risk of limb loss and higher mortality rates; however, its specific incidence and mechanism risk association remains unknown.1,2 Although the concomitance of PAI with knee dislocations (KDs) has been well established, with mandatory emergency angiography being included in the standard of care of KD diagnosis until the early 2000s, previously reported incidence rates of PAI in KD are highly heterogeneous, ranging between 5% and 60%.