Injury to the Anterior Tibial Artery during Bicortical Tibial Drilling in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

• Published in: Clinics in orthopedic surgery Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 110 - 114
• Main Authors: Kim, Sang Bum, Lim, Jin Woo, Seo, Jeong Gook, Ha, Jeong Ku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Orthopaedic Association 01-03-2016; 대한정형외과학회
• Subjects: Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction - adverse effects; Case Report; Compartment Syndromes; Fasciotomy; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Male; Necrosis; Postoperative Complications; Republic of Korea; Tibia - surgery; Tibial Arteries - injuries; 정형외과학; Arterial embolism; Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; Compartment syndromes; Arterial injury; Anterior cruciate ligament
• ISSN: 2005-291X; 2005-4408
• DOI: 10.4055/cios.2016.8.1.110

Many complications have been reported during or after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, including infection, bleeding, tibial tunnel widening, arthrofibrosis, and graft failure. However, arterial injury has been rarely reported. This paper reports a case of an anterior tibial arterial injury during bicortical tibial drilling in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction, associated with an asymptomatic occlusion of the popliteal artery. The patient had a vague pain which led to delayed diagnosis of compartment syndrome and delayed treatment with fasciotomy. All surgeons should be aware of these rare but critical complications because the results may be disastrous like muscle necrosis as in this case.