Methods: Between March 2007 and June 2010, 12 patients (9 males, 3 females; mean age 23.4±6.6 years; range 16 to 40 years) who underwent surgery for popliteal artery entrapment syndrome in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. Eleven patients had unilateral and one patient had bilateral popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Of all patients, eight had type 2 disease, while the remaining patients had type 3 disease. Physical examination revealed non-palpable pulses. The Ankle-Brachial indices of the affected extremity varied between 0.30 to 0.46. The diagnosis was based on magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomography angiography.

Results: The flow of distal popliteal artery was evaluated by the manual Doppler ultrasonography and pulsatile flow was detected. Postoperative ankle-brachial indices of patients were measured between 0.90 to 0.97 values in all patients. The patients were scheduled for the outpatient clinic at one and three months after discharge for magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography angiography examinations. The results were normal, which indicated that femoro-popliteal artery bypass grafts were patent and popliteal artery lumens at the thrombectomy sites were open. Ischemic ulcers were completely healed. There was no in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion: Our study results suggest that popliteal artery entrapment syndrome should be kept in mind in young patients with complaint of claudication and a detailed vascular examination is of utmost importance for the differential diagnosis and treatment plan in this patient population.