Bilateral Persistent Sciatic Artery – An Infrequent Occurrence: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

Abstract A persistent sciatic artery (PSA) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly with an extremely low incidence of about 0.04%–0.06%. It is due to the persistence of the embryological axial limb artery, representing a continuation of the internal iliac artery into the thigh through the greater sciatic foramen below the piriformis muscle and down the thigh alongside the sciatic nerve. In normal embryologic development of the lower limb, the axial artery normally regresses after week 12. Persistent sciatic artery is often asymptomatic until a complication develops, it can be classified into two types, complete and incomplete. PSA can cause serious lower limb complications such as acute or critical limb ischemia.