Take 40cm of vein to save 17 year old boy's leg

The 17-year-old boy suffered multiple injuries and was at risk of amputating his right leg. The doctor used 40cm of vein to replace the popliteal artery, saving the patient's foot.

After 3 weeks of treatment, the 17-year-old patient was discharged from the hospital with his right leg saved from the risk of amputation - Photo: Quang Tri General Hospital

On October 24, Quang Tri General Hospital said that patient HVD (17 years old, residing in Ben Quan commune, Quang Tri) was admitted to the hospital in a state of shock with multiple injuries: closed fracture of the right femur, open fracture of both right tibia, cold and purple feet, loss of peripheral pulses and a wound on the right hand that was continuously bleeding.

CT scan results showed that the patient had lost signal of the popliteal and anterior tibial arteries, predicting the risk of right leg amputation due to prolonged limb ischemia.

The team urgently consulted and performed a surgery lasting more than 4 hours, including fixing the femur, releasing the calf compartment to evaluate the vitality of the muscles, connecting the hand tendons and exploring the popliteal artery.

The doctor discovered an artery stuck between the fracture site, the popliteal artery and anterior tibial artery were crushed and blocked for nearly 20cm.

The team decided to perform "popliteal artery bypass" surgery, taking a 40cm long segment of the left leg vein to replace the damaged popliteal artery, reestablishing blood flow from the thigh to the calf.

After surgery, the patient's feet were warm and pink, with sensation and movement, and vital signs were stable. After 3 weeks of treatment, the patient was discharged from the hospital for further monitoring.

The damaged artery was replaced with a vein from the remaining leg - Photo: Quang Tri General Hospital

According to doctors, popliteal artery injury is a rare form, accounting for only 5-19% of limb vascular injuries, and if not treated promptly, the risk of amputation can be up to 60%. The success of the surgery not only saved his legs but also helped the 17-year-old boy keep his future and dreams.

The popliteal artery is a large branch of the lower limb vascular system, located behind the knee joint, passing through an area called the popliteal fossa (the hollow behind the knee).

The function of the popliteal artery is to supply oxygen-rich blood to the entire knee, leg, and foot.

When the popliteal artery is blocked or ruptured, blood cannot circulate to the lower limbs, leading to acute anemia, tissue necrosis and the risk of leg amputation if timely revascularization surgery is not performed.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lay-40cm-tinh-mach-cuu-chan-cho-chang-trai-17-tuoi-20251025105917693.htm