Abstract
A 33-year-old male pilot instructor was injured by an airplane propeller which resulted in massive injury to his right lower lateral leg, leaving in its wake a destroyed peroneal nerve, macerated muscle, open fractures of the tibia and fibula, and severe vascular injury. The latter involved complete transsection and destruction of the anterior tibial artery and the tibiopero neal trunk plus a laceration of the distal popliteal and proximal posterior tibial veins. After his arrival to the hospital he was treated for shock, underwent arteriography and reconstructive vascular surgery which resulted in limb salvage. Further surgery for skin grafting was required and he was discharged from the hospital six weeks after he was admitted and he was ambulating without aid.
Two years later his popliteo-peroneal saphenous vein graft continues to function and he performs all activities including sports with little difficulty. He requires no foot or leg brace and has no limp.
Leg injuries as a result of automobile, motorcycle, and hunting accidents along with war-related injuries are well known to all surgeons who deal with injuries of the extremities. However, an injury to an extremity from a rotating airplane propeller is most unusual as the following case report will reveal. Even more so is the fact that the leg was not traumatically amputated but had all of its vital arterial supply destroyed. Without reconstruction he would have had to go on to complete amputation by normal surgical means. The psychologic impact of such an injury is almost as severe as the physical injury and requires treatment as well.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.