Femoral shaft fracture with injury of the superficial femoral artery in civilian accidents.

Eight patients with a fracture of the shaft of the femur and a concomitant lesion of the superficial femoral artery are presented. Six patients had a viable leg; one patient, a below knee amputation, and one, an above knee amputation. Early recognition of this relatively rare combination is of paramount importance. In our experience, internal fixation of the fracture followed by grafting of the artery through separate incision works best.