OPEN KNEE DISLOCATION ASSOCIATED WITH VASCULAR INJURY SUCCESSFULLY SALVAGED BY PRIMARY ARTHRODESIS IN AN ELDERLY PATIENT - A CASE-REPORT

Treatment by primary arthrodesis of the knee joint after temporary int raluminal shunt placement in a 70-year-old man with open knee dislocat ion involving the popliteal vessels is reported, After temporary shunt ing, the definitive vascular reconstruction of both the popliteal arte ry and vein was established by end-to-end anastomoses because of the s hortening effect of the arthrodesis, Two skin coverage procedures were performed on day 0 and day 18, The patient recovered activity to a le vel near his pretrauma status, Primary arthrodesis for open knee dislo cation associated with vascular injury in an elderly patient may be an efficacious procedure, depending on the patient's age, occupation, an d level of activity.