[A complex injury of the knee joint associated with a popliteal artery lesion--case report].

Injuries of the popliteal artery are frequent in the dislocations of the knee joint, and an early diagnosis of a lesion of the popliteal artery is the base for the successful treatment. Generally, in all the traumas in the region or proximity of the knee joint, it should always be taken into consideration a possibility of arterial injury. In our case there was a posterior knee joint luxation with evidently contused and thrombosed popliteal artery. The surgery was done in an inappropriate time (more than 14 hours after the injury), and consisted in a Goretex graft interposition, and following a ligamentary reconstruction a transitory arthrodesis with external fixator (AO) in one level was carried out, what can be a model for similar situations. A control arteriography immediately before the patient's discharge from the hospital showed an arterial passage, while clinically an evidently lesser posterior unstability existed. In the surgical managing of such injuries it is necessary an interdisciplinary approach, appropriate period of time and corresponding sequences of repairs.