Evaluation of Long-term Outcomes of Popliteal Artery Injury Following Lower Extremity Blunt Trauma in Sari Imam Khomeini Teaching Hospital from 2004 to 2009

Background and Lower limb trauma with popliteal artery injuries is associated with a high rate of amputation. This study was conducted to evaluate the predictive value for amputation and disability of popliteal artery injury. Patients with popliteal artery injuries over a period of five years (2004-2009) were identified from Ïmam khomeini Teaching Hospital in Sari. Demographic data, mechanism of injury, vascular examination, ischemic period, methods of arterial repair, venous repair, fasciotomy, amputation rate and Functional Ïndependent Measure (FÏM) and locomotion score were studied. Severity of lower extremity injury was quantified using the Mangled Ëxtremity Severity Score (MËSS). Ïndependent T-test, X2 and Pearson Çorrelation Çoefficient were used for data analysis and P<0.05 was considered as significant level. Ôf 50 patients, 49 (98 %) were males. There were 17 amputations (34%). The mean length of hospital stay in amputated patients was 15.83 ± 11.28 and in limb salvaged patients was 30.95 ± 21.80 days. The average MËSS in amputated patients was 6.94 ± 1.64 versus 5.15 ± 1.56 in limb salvaged patients (P<0.05). There was also a significant correlation between nerve injury and rate of limb amputation (P<0.05).Çonclusion: Severity of limb injury, as measured by the MËSS and FÏM Locomotion Score, is highly predictive of amputation and disability.