[Amputation after traumatic lesion of the popliteal artery-avoidable or inevitable? (author's transl)].

Each serious injury of the joint of the knee involves the possibility of an additional lesion of the popliteal artery. Among the arterial injuries the traumatic lesions of the popliteal artery with a frequency of up to 20% are of great importance. Failure to recognize or estimate them correctly may result in a high rate of amputations. In addition, three own cases were critically analysed.