Femoral and Tibial Fractures Combined with Injuries to the Femoral or Popliteal Artery

This analysis of thirty-six reported cases of femoral or popliteal arterial injury in the lower limb associated with femoral or tibial fracture and fourteen such cases seen in our hospitals does not substantiate the need for internal fracture fixation. A satisfactory and practical method of immobilizing fractures associated with arterial injury was 4.5 to 6.8 kilograms of skeletal traction. The method of managing the fracture should not be allowed to take precedence over treatment of the related serious injury to the soft tissues.