Abstract
Despite the close association of the popliteal artery to the knee joint, rela tively few cases of arterial injury following total knee replacement have been reported. The authors report 2 patients with total knee prostheses who devel oped hemarthrosis due to pseudoaneurysm formation originating from the ge niculate branches of the popliteal artery. In 1 patient, early arteriography led to a prompt diagnosis and treatment with subsequent good outcome. In the second patient the diagnosis was delayed, for an arteriogram was performed only after recurrent bleeding. This patient had a prolonged course eventually necessitating removal of the total knee prosthesis.
These cases emphasize the need for a high index of suspicion for arterial injury in patients who undergo total knee replacement with subsequent develop ment of hemarthrosis or persistent bleeding. Early arteriography to establish the diagnosis is advocated.
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