Catheter-based therapy for traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the anterior tibial artery

Tibial artery pseudoaneurysms often result from penetrating or blunt trauma to the lower extremities, or after orthopedic and endovascular interventions. Clinically, these lesions manifest as an expanding pulsatile mass of the affected area accompanied with pain and erythema. Despite the rare occurrence, traumatic tibial pseudoaneurysms can be associated with significant morbidity including local discomfort, rupture, and lower limb ischemia. Duplex ultrasound is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Treatment options include surgical repair, ultrasound-guided compression or thrombin injection, and endovascular repair. In this report, we describe a 42-year-old male who presented to our center with pulsatile swelling over the mid-lateral aspect of the left leg. The diagnosis of a large anterior tibial artery pseudoaneurysm was made on clinical basis and was confirmed with computed tomography angiography. The lesion was treated endovascularly with a covered stent graft. In conclusion, this case highlights the role of endovascular therapy as a surgery-sparing and minimally invasive approach in managing traumatic peripheral arterial pseudoaneurysms with excellent clinical outcomes.