[Popliteal compression syndrome: an overproportional incidence]

From 1985 to 1990 33 patients (43 lower limbs) with politeal entrapment were diagnosed by clinical findings and Doppler-ultrasound. The described syndrome is caused by transverse fibrous bands extending between both heads of the gastrocnemius muscle, or between the lateral head of the muscle and the medial femoral condylus. Chiefly during flexion of the knee and tiptoeing, the politeal artery and vein and/or popliteal nerves, mainly the common tibial nerve, are compressed on the fibrous bands. Of 43 lower limbs, the tibial nerve was mainly involved in 21 (high proportion) of them, the politeal artery in 19 of them and the politeal vein in the remaining 3 limbs. The ratio female: male was 2.93:1, without preference of a certain age-group. The follow-up is up to 4 years. The described condition is possibly more common than thought.