Traumatic anterior dislocation of a prosthetic knee, from trauma to delayed onset of vascular injury

Arthroplast Today. 2018 Oct 24;4(4):407-410. doi: 10.1016/j.artd.2018.09.001. eCollection 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Anterior dislocation of a prosthetic knee is a rare event. Only few episodes have been described in the past and have never been linked with neurovascular injury. This could lead orthopaedic surgeons to focus on the implant instability factors and underrate other complications. The authors report a case of a patient who experienced popliteal artery dissection 80 hours after traumatic anterior knee dislocation of a previously well-functioning total knee arthroplasty. Given that there is a lack of clinical cases that have established guidelines for management of this problem, the authors have focused on the importance of performing computed tomography angiography in the management of an anterior traumatic knee dislocation of a prosthetic knee.

Keywords: Prosthetic knee dislocation; Revascularization syndrome; Traumatic anterior knee dislocation; Vascular dissection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports