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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Assessment of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle in functional compression of the popliteal artery
Journal of Vascular Surgery, Volume 48, No. 5, Year 2008
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Description
Objective: Nonfunctional popliteal entrapment is due to embryologic maldevelopment within the popliteal fossa. Functional entrapment occurs in the apparent absence of an anatomic abnormality. Gastrocnemius hypertrophy has been associated with the latter. Both forms of entrapment may cause arterial injury and lower limb ischemia. This study assessed the attachment of the medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle in healthy occluders and healthy nonoccluders. Methods: Provocative tests were used to identify 58 nonoccluders and 16 occluders. Ten subjects from each group underwent magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the popliteal fossa. The medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle attachment was assessed in the supracondylar, pericondylar, and intercondylar areas. Results: In the occluder group, significantly more muscle was attached towards the femoral midline (supracondylar), around the lateral border of the medial condyle (pericondylar), and within the intercondylar fossa. Conclusion: The more extensive midline position of the medial head of the gastrocnemius in occluders is likely to be a normal embryological variation. Forceful contraction results in compression and occlusion of the adjacent popliteal artery. The clinical significance of these anatomic variations remains unclear. However, these new observations may provide insight for future analysis of the causes and natural history of functional compression and the potential progression to clinical entrapment. © 2008.
Authors & Co-Authors
Pillai, Jayandiran
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Levien, Lewis J.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Haagensen, Mark
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Candy, Geoffrey Patrick
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Cluver, M. D.V.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Veller, Martin G.
South Africa, Johannesburg
University of the Witwatersrand
Statistics
Citations: 48
Authors: 6
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.jvs.2008.06.057
ISSN:
07415214
Research Areas
Violence And Injury