Disconnection of arterial collateral as the cause of lower leg amputation after conquassation caused by petrol tiller: A case report

Abstract

Introduction. Leg conquassation caused by petrol tiller is one of the most severe injuries in bone and joint traumatology. Firm strokes by sharp tiller blades produce strong force that easily damages both soft tissues and bones. Since tillers are used in soil processing, the wounds are highly contaminated with dirt and fertilizers, hence the anaerobic spore-forming bacilli, such as tetanus and gas gangrene pathogens. Case report. This paper presents the treatment of a 69 years old man with chronic arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities who suffered severe injury of the lower leg (IIIB open tibial fracture according to Gustillo) by petrol tiller while performing agricultural work. Due to the absence of pulsations, Multislice CT angiography and arteriography were performed. Arteriography of the injured leg confirmed chronic occlusion of the anterior tibial artery and numerous stenotic lesions of the peroneal and posterior tibial arteries. Posterior tibial artery was chronically occluded in its distal part and connected to the foot with moderately developed collateral arteries which provided the viability of the injured leg. Despite undertaken basic principles of treatment of this serious injury (primary surgical treatment of wounds, external fixation, reconstruction of soft tissue, antibiotic and anti-tetanus prophylaxis) due to infection and gangrene the treatment ended with lower leg amputation. Conclusion. Leg amputation can be expected in this type of injuries in cases of extensive destruction of tissue in the field of existing chronic arterial insufficiency in elderly patients, even in the absence of injury of main blood vessels due to traumatic disconnection of collateral in such patients.