Macias-Narvaez et al. (2026)
Palabras claves: luxación de rodilla; arteria poplítea; lesión vascular; índice tobillo-brazo;
angiotomografía; revascularización; anestesia; reperfusión; hiperpotasemia; síndrome
compartimental.
Abstract
Background: Traumatic tibiofemoral dislocation may injure the popliteal artery through stretching,
intimal disruption, thrombosis, or transection. Spontaneous reduction and collateral circulation
may preserve distal pulses and delay recognition. When ischemia is present, urgent
revascularization introduces anesthetic challenges related to trauma, bleeding, and reperfusion
syndrome. Objective: To integrate evidence on early diagnosis of occult vascular injury, urgent
revascularization strategies, and perioperative anesthetic considerations in traumatic knee
dislocation. Methods: A qualitative systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE through September
1, 2026 was complemented by reference tracking and a focused search on anesthesia, vascular
trauma, reperfusion, and compartment syndrome. Systematic reviews, cohorts, guidelines, case
reports, and case series providing relevant diagnostic, therapeutic, or perioperative information
were included. Owing to clinical and methodological heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis without
meta-analysis was performed. Results: Clinical reviews report vascular injury in approximately
10.7%-18% of selected knee dislocations, whereas contemporary administrative datasets report
lower rates. In a 110-patient cohort, the combination of palpable dorsalis pedis/posterior tibial
pulses and an ankle-brachial index ≥0.9 achieved 100% sensitivity and a 100% negative
predictive value for major vascular injury. Case reports demonstrate that popliteal thrombosis may
coexist with preserved distal pulses or a spontaneously reduced knee. Anesthetic priorities
include hemostatic resuscitation, hemodynamically stable induction, risk-adapted monitoring,
preparation for reperfusion, serial potassium/acid-base assessment, temperature control, and
surveillance for compartment syndrome. Regional analgesia may be selectively used, while
avoiding dense prolonged blocks in patients at risk for compartment syndrome and ensuring
structured postoperative surveillance. Conclusions: Occult vascular injury after knee dislocation
requires protocolized serial vascular examination, ankle-brachial index testing, and selective CT
angiography. Revascularization should not be delayed, and the anesthetic plan should explicitly
address trauma physiology and reperfusion risk. Multidisciplinary coordination is essential for limb
salvage and systemic safety.
Keywords: knee dislocation; popliteal artery; vascular injury; ankle-brachial index; CT
angiography; revascularization; anesthesia; reperfusion; hyperkalemia; compartment syndrome.
trombosis progresiva, disección,
1
. Introducción
pseudoaneurisma,
oclusión
y
La luxación tibiofemoral traumática
es una lesión infrecuente pero
potencialmente devastadora. La
ruptura de múltiples estabilizadores
transección completa [1-4].
El reto diagnóstico no se limita a la
extremidad con isquemia evidente.
Una proporción relevante de
capsuloligamentarios
permite
luxaciones
se
reduce
desplazamientos que someten a la
arteria poplítea, relativamente fija en
el hiato del aductor y el arco del
sóleo, a tracción, cizallamiento y
compresión. El espectro vascular
incluye espasmo, lesión íntima con
espontáneamente antes de la
valoración hospitalaria y algunos
pacientes conservan pulsos distales
gracias a circulación colateral o flujo
parcial. Por ello, una rodilla
aparentemente alineada y un pie