Iatrogenic acute limb ischemia with complete traumatic rupture of the popliteal artery associated with total knee arthroplasty

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) related to total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is rare. Most occlusions are caused by thrombus formation in the popliteal artery (PA). Currently such cases are revascularized using less invasive approaches such as endovascular therapy or Fogarty thrombectomy. We report a case of ALI in a 65-year-old woman with complete rupture of the PA due to a TKA procedure. She had resting pain and motor paralysis in her right lower extremity after TKA. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed occlusion of the right femoropopliteal artery. Subsequently, she was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of ALI. Initially, a less invasive revascularization procedure was unsuccessfully attempted. Therefore, we performed an emergency distal bypass and succeeded in revascularization. Intraoperative examination revealed a complete rupture of the PA. Postoperatively, the patient exhibited no signs of myonephropathic metabolic syndrome. Although there was significant motor impairment, the affected limbs were successfully salvaged. ALI with complete rupture of the PA associated with TKA has not been reported previously. In cases of iatrogenic ALI after TKA, it would be essential to consider diagnostic and revascularization methods that account for the possibility of severe injury to the PA.

Learning objective

Acute limb ischemia after total knee arthroplasty is a rare and life- and limb-threatening condition. The underlying pathological mechanism is often thrombus occlusion due to mechanical stimuli of the popliteal artery (PA). There are no established treatments for this condition, and less invasive approaches such as endovascular procedures and Fogarty thrombectomy are often used. However, in cases involving severe damage to the PA, bypass surgery may be necessary, and revascularization procedures should be considered accordingly.