Arterial complications after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) are quite rare, however, the arterial occlusive disease (AOD) associated with chronic knee osteoarthrosis may represent a problem. Since the sequels can be disastrous, the surgical TKA approach should be different when AOD is present. Most of the cases reported have been attributed to the following factors: use of tourniquet; excessive intraop-erative manipulation; or the correction of a flexion contracture. AOD is underesti-mated among people with osteoarthrosis and most of cases occur among patients with previous clinical or radiological evidences of arterial disease. A vascular evaluation should be considered in those situations. Furthermore, it's difficult to recognize and promptly deal with an ischemic leg in the post-operative TKA period. In spite of the small incidence of arterial thrombosis, a high amputation risk is re-ported. We have made a literature review, which showed the reported AOD inci-dence among patients presenting degenerative knee osteoarthrosis and post-TKA arterial thrombosis aspects. Also, the predictive factors for ischemic atherosclerotic complications in TKA were identified. Lesions due to direct trauma of normal arter-ies, leading to pseudoaneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas and bleeding weren't studied.
Thrombosis; Ischemia; Arthroplasty; Knee
