RISK-FACTORS FOR ARTHROSCOPIC POPLITEAL ARTERY LACERATION

A case report is presented in which a patient with well-documented pig mented villonodular synovitis sustained a disruption of the popliteal artery without evidence of penetration of the posterior capsule. The p atient had had several extensive open synovectomies in the prior 20 ye ars. These included popliteal space exposure and dissection. At the ti me of open arterial repair, multiple nodules of pigmented scar were no ted densely binding the popliteal artery to the surrounding muscle and fascial tissues. The arthroscopist should be aware that distension an d instrumentation of the knee joint in such patients should be perform ed with extreme care to avoid arterial disruption.