In case of popliteal artery injury as in knee dislocation, or repair of a popliteal artery aneurysm, the dissection can be done in an elegant way through a posterior approach.

Here are the main steps of the procedure:

  1. Patient face-down
  2. S-shape incision
  3. Longitudinal incision of the fascia
  4. Recognition of the borders of the popliteal fossa (diamond-shape): Calf (lateral and medial heads of the gastrocnemius) – Thigh (biceps femurs laterally, and hemi-tendinosus medially)
  5. Main elements: tibial nerve (superiorly), popliteal vein (middle), popliteal artery (bottom)
  6. The tibial nerve and the popliteal vein should be carefully retracted medially in order to let the popliteal artery be exposed laterally.

Videos by AML

https://player.vimeo.com/video/695138648?h=e926beb18c

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