Radiological Prevalence of Popliteal Artery Entrapment in Individuals With Anterior Leg Compartment Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the radiological prevalence of popliteal artery entrapment (PAE) in subjects with anterior leg compartment chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS).

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Tertiary care center.

PATIENTS: Of 71 patients diagnosed with anterior leg compartment CECS using an in-scanner exercise-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 64 also completed Fast Imaging Employing Steady-State Acquisition (FIESTA) imaging.

INTERVENTIONS: Electronic health records of patients diagnosed with anterior leg compartment CECS using an in-scanner exercise-based MRI between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographics, symptom laterality, and results of vascular work-up.

RESULTS

Magnetic resonance imaging was positive for PAE in 33 of 64 (51.6%). Vascular evaluation was performed in 30 of 33 (90.9%). Of these 30, ankle-brachial indices (ABIs) with PAE maneuvers were performed in 29 (96.7%) and positive in 25 (86.2%). Pre-exercise and post-exercise ABIs were performed in 29 (96.7%) and abnormal in 20 (69.0%). Thirteen arterial duplex ultrasounds were performed; 10 were consistent with PAE (76.9%). An MR angiogram was performed in 8 (26.7%) and consistent with PAE in all. One computed tomography angiogram (3.3%) was completed and was normal. Overall, one or more tests were positive for PAE in all 30 with vascular evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiological prevalence of PAE and anterior leg CECS was 51.6%. All subjects with vascular studies (90.9%) had one or more tests confirming radiological PAE. These findings suggest that the coexistence of PAE and CECS is common, and the PAE protocol used has a high correlation with vascular studies.