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[Conditions](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/) · [Knee](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/)

# Popliteal Artery Injury

[Popliteal artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/popliteal-artery/) injury is damage to the main artery behind the knee, usually from a knee dislocation or major trauma; it threatens the leg.

Updated 2026-10-23

## Structures involved

Tap one to see what it is and open it in 3D.

- [Popliteal artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/popliteal-artery/)

## In the clinical exam

- [Acute limb ischemia and chronic arterial insufficiency](https://durgical.com/en/clinical-exam/acute-limb-ischemia-and-chronic-arterial-insufficiency/)

## Why it happens

- [Hypoxia, ischemia and reperfusion injury](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/hypoxia-ischemia-and-reperfusion-injury/)
- [Blood vessels: artery, vein and capillary layers](https://durgical.com/en/histology/blood-vessels-artery-vein-and-capillary-layers/)

## What it is

Injury to the artery behind the knee, usually from high-energy trauma or knee dislocation. Limb-threatening emergency.

## Symptoms and signs

- Signs of ischemia
- Pain out of proportion
- Expanding hematoma

## Diagnosis

**Clinical**
Vascular exam after knee dislocation

**Tests**
Ankle-brachial index (ABI below 0.9 needs CT angiography)

**Imaging**
CT angiography

## Treatment

**Surgical**
Urgent revascularization and fasciotomy if indicated.

## Related conditions

- [Acute compartment syndrome](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-compartment-syndrome/)
- [Acute limb ischaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/acute-limb-ischaemia/)
- [Hypovolaemic shock](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/hypovolaemic-shock/)

Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

Sources: Knee Dislocation (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2024).

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Representative model, for educational purposes only.

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/conditions/popliteal-artery-injury/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/conditions/popliteal-artery-injury/