Journal List > Korean J Sports Med > v.31(1) > 1054503

Park, Yun, and Kim: Clinical Bilateral Poplitear Artery Entrapment Syndrome Caused by a Anomalous Origin of the Gastrocnemius Muscle

Abstract

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome can result from abnormal branching patterns of the popliteal artery or the anatomically abnormal placement of nearby muscles and tendons leading to a sustained compression of the popliteal artery. This compression leads to chronic capillary damage and early arteriosclerosis and embolism that can lead to distal ischemia. Thus early treatment is required to prevent harm to the lower limb. This is a rare congenital disease that mostly affects young adults, usually presenting with intermittent claudication of the leg, coldness and edema. A case where a 16-year-old female presented with pain and coldness in the lower right limb that started 1 year ago will be discussed. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging and arterial angiography lead to a diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment resulting from an abnormal origin of the medial head of Gastrocnemius.

References

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Fig. 1.
Popliteal artery entrapment resulting from an abnormal origin of the medial head of gastrocnemius, arising from supracondylar region, passing between popliteal artery and vein and inserting into medial head of muscle.
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Fig. 2.
Nearly complete segmental occlusion in the right popliteal artery at the superior aspect of femoral condyle.
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Fig. 3.
Right deviated arterial structure is narrower than other portion.
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Table 1.
Classification of the popliteal artery entrapment syndrome according to Whelan and Rich classification5,6)
Type I Aberrant course of the popliteal artery medial to a normal MHG
Type II Abnormal lateral insertion of the MGH and medial deviation of the popliteal artery
Type III Compression of a normally positioned popliteal artery by an accessory slip of the MGH
Type IV Abnormal location of the popliteal artery, deep in the popliteus muscle or beneth fibrous bands in th popliteal fossa
Type V Any form of the entrapment that involves both the popliteal artery and vein

MGH: medial head of gastrocnemius muscle.

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