Comparing the Repair Outcomes of Blunt Trauma vs. Penetrating Traumatic of Popliteal Artery Injury in the Southwest of Iran

IntroductionPopliteal artery injuries (PAI) one of the most severe peripheral vascular damages may lead to movement impairment or amputation. This study aimed to compare the repair results of popliteal artery injury due to blunt trauma with penetrating trauma in patients referred to the Vascular Surgery Center in Southwest Iran. MethodsThis was a descriptive and retrospective study. The statistical population was all patients with vascular trauma referred to the Southwest Trauma Center of Iran in 2020. The sampling method was census. The data collection tool was a checklist containing demographic information, medical information, vascular information, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) Score, and Mangled Extremity Severity Score (MESS). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS24 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The Chi-Square test, Fisher Exact Test, and independent T-test were used. Results63.1 % of participants had penetrating trauma. 10.6 % of participants needed limb fasciotomy (26.3 % in the penetrating trauma group VS 1.7 % in the blunt trauma group). The amputation rate was 8.8 % in the penetrating trauma group VS 12 % in the blunt trauma. There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of organ fasciotomy (P=0.035), type of PAI(P=0.018), and fracture (P=0.007). MESS Score (P<0.001), FIM Score (P<0.001), time of discharge (P<0.001), and Arterial condition (P<0.001). ConclusionPopliteal artery trauma is uncommon. Tthe results showed that the complication of penetrating PAI include organ fasciotomy (type of fracture, MESS Score, FIM Score, time of discharge, Arterial condition) in the southwest of Iran were significantly more than the blunt type. It is necessary to investigate additional studies with a larger sample size and extended duration.