Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome: A Case Report

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is a rare but potentially limb threatening anatomical anomaly occurring predominantly in young adults. We experienced a case of a 19 year old man who had suffered from a coldness of his left lower leg, without past history of trauma. Angiogram and MRI were performed and we diagnosed as a popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. The popliteal artery was entrapped in its abnormal course around the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle, which originated from the femur laterally and the cephalad. Thrombectomy, decompression of the popliteal artery and reposition of the medial head of the gastronemius muscle were successfully done. Blood flow was restored after surgical repair.