A Novel Approach to the Treatment of Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome in College Athletes

Abstract

Functional popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (FPAES) is a rare disorder that results from hypertrophy and overuse injury of calf muscles, which in turn compress neurovascular structures in the popliteal fossa. A majority of FPAES cases involve young athletes, who present with symptoms during exercise. Most commonly, FPAES is surgically treated with muscle debulking by use of a posterior S-shaped incision. Here we present our case series of college athletes undergoing FPAES repair by a novel medial incision approach.