ARTERIAL COMPLICATIONS OF ARTHROSCOPIC MENISCECTOMIES - REPORT OF 3 CASES

The authors report three exceptional cases of vascular lesions occurin g during arthroscopic meniscectomies involving the posterior horn of t he lateral meniscus. These lesions consisted of false aneurysms of the popliteal artery detected early (I month) or later (5 months and 3 ye ars) after the procedure, one of which formed a fistula with the accom panying vein. This later case resulted in intermittent claudication of the calf and the other two cases presented with painful flexion defor mity of the knee. In the case diagnosed after 1 month, the false aneur ysm arose from a punctate injury to the artery and was treated by dire ct arterial suture. In the other two cases, treatment consisted of exc ision of the false aneurysm and restoration of arterial continuity by an autologous saphenous vein graft. The quality of the clinical result was confirmed angiographically in all three cases. The anatomy predis poses to this complication which can be avoided by respecting a few si mple precautions. The surgeon must be avoided by respecting a few simp le precautions. The surgeon must be aware of and look for signs of thi s complication in order to allow early diagnosis.