Open knee dislocation associated with vascular injury successfully salvaged by primary arthrodesis in an elderly patient: a case report.

Treatment by primary arthrodesis of the knee joint after temporary intraluminal shunt placement in a 70-year-old man with open knee dislocation involving the popliteal vessels is reported. After temporary shunting, the definitive vascular reconstruction of both the popliteal artery and vein was established by end-to-end anastomoses because of the shortening effect of the arthrodesis. Two skin coverage procedures were performed on day 0 and day 18. The patient recovered activity to a level near his pretrauma status. Primary arthrodesis for open knee dislocation associated with vascular injury in an elderly patient may be an efficacious procedure, depending on the patient's age, occupation, and level of activity.