Recanalization of an occluded popliteal artery following posterior knee dislocation

Posterior knee dislocation results in popliteal artery injury in up to one- third of cases. Prompt recognition and treatment of arterial injury is esse ntial for limb salvage. We report a case of complete occlusion of the popli teal artery following posterior knee dislocation treated with saphenous vei n bypass without exclusion of the injured arterial segment. Follow-up duple x scanning demonstrated a patent vein graft and a patent ipsilateral poplit eal artery. This report suggests that, in some instances, a traumatically o ccluded popliteal artery may recanalize, and that revascularization with a bypass graft may be the preferred method of repair, particularly in young p atients.