The patient should be transferred directly to the operating room for exploration of the popliteal artery. The patient has hard signs of vascular trauma - a pulseless limb. There is also no doubt as to the location of the injury. Rapid surgical exploration and revascularisation fo the limb is key to a favourable outcome.

Angiography should be reserved for cases where there is doubt about the location of the injury - eg. multiple penetrating injuries. Angiography may also exclude a significant injury blunt trauma or high velocity missile trauma.

Doppler studies are of little value in traumatic injuries. Loss of a palpable pulse is a hard sign. The presence of a doppler signal does not exclude a significant vascular injury.

See: Peripheral Vascular Trauma