Anterior Tibial Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Arthroscopic Ankle Arthrodesis: A Case Report

Vascular complications after ankle arthroscopy (AA) are rare but potentially serious. Pseudoaneurysm (PA) formation, especially involving the anterior tibial artery, requires prompt diagnosis and management to avoid severe outcomes.

We report a case of a 68-year-old obese, hypertensive male patient with a history of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, who developed a rigid equinus deformity of the left ankle. He underwent Achilles tendon tenotomy and arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. On post-operative day 23, he presented with a pulsatile mass in the anterolateral ankle region. Duplex Doppler ultrasound confirmed an anterior tibial artery PA. Surgical ligation of the artery proximal and distal to the lesion was successfully performed.

Although rare, PA formation following AA should be considered when patients present with pulsatile swellings postoperatively. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial to prevent serious complications.