Isolated popliteus tendon injury in a young patient: A case report

Isolated popliteus injury is a rare clinical condition which can be treated either surgically or conservatively. Factors such as the patient's age, activity level, and cooperation with the medical team are determinants to choose the most optimal treatment option. A 29-year-old female patient presented with a knee injury caused by a low-speed motorcycle accident. Further examination suggested an isolated popliteus injury without any concomitant knee injury. We opted for surgical treatment, as it allowed us to act more confidently in the postoperative follow-up and the patient did not inspire confidence in the medical team in terms of close follow-up and compliance with the physical therapy protocols that would be required, if conservative treatment was chosen. In conclusion, isolated popliteus injury is a rare condition with no consensus on the treatment algorithm. Both surgical and conservative treatments can yield good to excellent results. Surgical treatment may be considered in selected cases where an optimal close follow-up regimen seems to be unlikely.