From The Court To Critical Care: Non-Contact Knee Injury With Limb Threatening Vascular Sequela
Abstract
Acute knee injuries in athletes are regularly encountered in sports medicine with ligamentous disruption being especially prevalent. Acute knee injuries that result in ligamentous disruption most often have an atraumatic mechanism such as improper landing or change in direction. Conversely, posterior knee dislocations typically present following high impact trauma such as a motor vehicle accident. Such injuries pose a high risk of both ligamentous and vascular damage. This case will aim to highlight the differential diagnosis of the acute knee and the importance of triaging injuries appropriately to either emergency care or outpatient orthopedics. An 18-year-old female high school basketball athlete with no significant past medical history experienced a non-contact left knee hyperextension injury during sudden deceleration while dribbling. The injury mechanism was left knee hyperextension as upper body momentum continued forward. She experienced immediate knee swelling with the inability to bear weight. Emergency department evaluation revealed an occlusion of the left lower popliteal artery on CT angiogram. MRI indicated left tibial plateau fracture with posterior cruciate ligament tearing. The patient underwent urgent vascular surgery, including a popliteal artery bypass using a saphenous vein graft followed by a four-compartment fasciotomy. Then, delayed posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed by orthopedic surgery. This case will discuss diagnostic studies used to further evaluate posterior knee dislocations. This study will also discuss neurovascular injury associated with posterior knee dislocation and subsequent postoperative complications.
Start Time
15-4-2026 1:30 PM
End Time
15-4-2026 4:30 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Presentation Type
Poster
Student Type
Graduate and Professional Degree Students, Residents, Fellows
Faculty Mentor
Sarah Hewitt
From The Court To Critical Care: Non-Contact Knee Injury With Limb Threatening Vascular Sequela
Culp Ballroom 316
Acute knee injuries in athletes are regularly encountered in sports medicine with ligamentous disruption being especially prevalent. Acute knee injuries that result in ligamentous disruption most often have an atraumatic mechanism such as improper landing or change in direction. Conversely, posterior knee dislocations typically present following high impact trauma such as a motor vehicle accident. Such injuries pose a high risk of both ligamentous and vascular damage. This case will aim to highlight the differential diagnosis of the acute knee and the importance of triaging injuries appropriately to either emergency care or outpatient orthopedics. An 18-year-old female high school basketball athlete with no significant past medical history experienced a non-contact left knee hyperextension injury during sudden deceleration while dribbling. The injury mechanism was left knee hyperextension as upper body momentum continued forward. She experienced immediate knee swelling with the inability to bear weight. Emergency department evaluation revealed an occlusion of the left lower popliteal artery on CT angiogram. MRI indicated left tibial plateau fracture with posterior cruciate ligament tearing. The patient underwent urgent vascular surgery, including a popliteal artery bypass using a saphenous vein graft followed by a four-compartment fasciotomy. Then, delayed posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction was performed by orthopedic surgery. This case will discuss diagnostic studies used to further evaluate posterior knee dislocations. This study will also discuss neurovascular injury associated with posterior knee dislocation and subsequent postoperative complications.
