An Unusual Presentation of a Popliteal Arteriovenous Fistula After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Iatrogenic popliteal arteriovenous fistula after total knee arthroplasty is extremely rare (Int Surg. 1998 Jul-Sep;83(3):198-201). We report this complication in a 78-year-old female patient 3 years after total knee arthroplasty. She presented with symptoms of persistent swelling and recurrent cellulitis of the operated leg. A fistula was detected between the popliteal artery and vein by vascular duplex scan and confirmed by peripheral arteriography. This was successfully treated by resection of the fistula and direct repair of the artery and vein.