Arterial occlusion and thrombus aspiration after total knee arthroplasty

Arterial occlusion after total knee arthroplasty is an uncommon complicatio n. In the literature only a few cases have been reported, and no consensus exists on the optimal management for this condition. The authors report two patients with popliteal artery thrombosis in the early postoperative perio d. Both patients were treated with percutaneous thrombus aspiration, a tech nique that has not been reported previously for this indication. In both pa tients complete restoration of arterial perfusion and limb salvage was achi eved, although ischemic necrosis of the anterior compartment muscles of the lower leg could not be prevented.