AMPUTATION RATE FOLLOWING TIBIAL FRACTURES WITH ASSOCIATED POPLITEAL ARTERY INJURIES

Purpose We aim to determine the amputation rate and identify predictors of outcome in patients with tibial fractures and associated popliteal artery injuries at a level 1 trauma unit draining a large geographical region. Material and methods All patients with popliteal artery injuries and tibial fractures treated at a level 1 trauma unit between 1999 and 2010 were assessed retrospectively regarding amputation rates and prognostic factors and tested for significance with a Z-test of proportions. Results Thirty consecutive patients were reviewed with a mean age of 30.5 years and a male preponderance of 73.3%. Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) and gunshot wounds (GSWs) constituted the mechanism of injury in 17 patients (56.7%) and 11 patients (36.7%) respectively. Twenty-one cases were polytrauma patients. Intra and extra-articular metaphyseal fractures (AO 41 A-C) were seen in 19 patients and diaphyseal fractures (42 A-C) in 7 patients. Primary amputation was performed in 7 patients and delayed amputation in 10 patients giving an overall amputation rate of 56.7%. Amputation rates in MVAs and GSWs were similar (57.9% and 54.5% respectively). Delays from injury to revascularization of more than 6 hours, delays from hospital admission to revascularization of more than 2 hours and initial clinical assessment of non-viability were associated with higher rates of limb loss of 60.9%, 62.5% and 60% respectively. Signs of threatened viability together with delay from admission to theatre more than 2 hours showed the highest amputation rate of 68,4%. These results are trends and not statistically significant with 95% confidence interval. Conclusion More than half of the patients with these injuries required amputation. Predictors of amputation remain elusive; however, these results suggest that initial presentation of a threatened limb in the context of a tibial fracture may necessitate intervention within the first 2 hours of presentation in order to improve the outcome NO DISCLOSURES