Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome in a young girl: case report of a rare finding.
The popliteal artery (PA) entrapment syndrome, a rare cause of arterial thrombosis, is most often encountered in young male athletes. Here, we report a very unusual case of PA entrapment syndrome in a 14-year-old girl who presented with a 1-month history of calf claudication to our observation facility. Diagnostic work-up revealed obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and an aberrant accessory slip of the medial head of gastrocnemius around the PA. Arterial echo color Doppler ultrasonography and computed tomographic angiography studies were performed. Surgical treatment involved revascularization with resection of the medial head of gastrocnemius, the cause of the arterial entrapment, and enlargement angioplasty using an autologous saphenous vein patch, in combination with antiplatelet therapy, resulting in restitution ad integrum of the affected limb and, finally, an improved quality of life of the patient. This case underscores the importance of clinical suspicion, diagnosis, and treatment of lower-limb claudication in very young patients presenting with unusual symptoms. If missed, the condition may evolve dramatically. Prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment are key to complete recovery and the prevention of irreversible complications that may result in limb loss.
Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Molinette Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Valentina
V
Molinaro
Elisa
E
Pagliasso
Gianfranco
G
Varetto
Claudio
C
Castagno
Lorenzo
L
Gibello
Fabiana
F
Zandrino
Roberta
R
Suita
Pietro
P
Rispoli
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult