Title:Anatomical Approach to Clinical Problems of Popliteal Fossa
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Author(s): Gautam Dagur, Jason Gandhi, Noel Smith and Sardar A. Khan*
Affiliation:
- HSC Level 9 Room 040 SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8093,United States
Keywords:
Deep vein thrombosis, lipoma, peroneal nerve palsy, persistent sciatic artery, popliteal artery aneurysm, popliteal
artery entrapment syndrome, popliteal cysts, popliteal fossa.
Abstract: Background: Popliteal fossa, also known as the popliteal space, is located behind the
knee joint. This region can develop many clinical complications in the vascular, nervous, lymphatics,
adipose, as well as swelling and masses.
Objective: The objective of this review article is to give a detailed understanding of the popliteal
fossa and the clinical pathology that may present itself.
Methods: MEDLINE® searches were conducted of literature published since 1950s for “popliteal
fossa,” “diseases,” “anatomy,” “arterial,” “venous,” “nerves,” “entrapment syndrome,” “aneurysms,”
“cysts,” “lymphatics,” “solid masses,” “tumors,” “inflammatory lesions,” and “swellings.”
The references provide up-to-date literature for all the pathologies discussed.
Results: This review articles discusses the anatomy, clinical examination, including history, physical,
and imaging modalities, and various diseases that present themselves in patients. Diseases relating
to the arterial and venous systems, nervous system, musculature, adipose, lymphatics, cysts
and other solid masses, including neoplasms, and abscesses. The differential diagnosis and symptoms
of certain conditions are addressed to isolate the root of the manifestation.
Conclusion: Diseases of the popliteal fossa can use histology and electrophysiology to aid in diagnosis,
as well as instrumentation. Surgical approaches are uses to treat varying pathologies as they
are the best means of therapy.
