Acute popliteal artery occlusion after total knee arthroplasty.

We describe the case of a 71-year-old man with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease who developed acute popliteal artery occlusion immediately after total knee arthroplasty. Reperfusion was achieved thanks to the early diagnosis and thrombolytic therapy with urokinase. Arterial occlusion occurring after total knee arthroplasty is a rare but serious complication. Detailed preoperative evaluation of the peripheral arterial circulation and an early diagnosis seem to be important.