| خلاصه مقاله | Introduction:
Pseudoaneurysms are vascular abnormalities which are commonly linked to penetrating injuries caused by a tangential cut through all three layers of an artery's wall. In rare conditions, untreated pseudoaneurysms could lead to nerve injury through compression of the nerve nearby. This case is an uncommon presentation of anterior tibial artery pseudoaneurysm, leading to injury to deep peroneal nerve injury.
Case presentation
A 53-year-old man was referred to physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic for electrodiagnostic tests with an intense pain in the anterior aspect of the leg and dorsum of the right foot, along with gradual weakness in dorsiflexion of the toes and thumb. He had a history of falling and laceration on the anterolateral aspect of his leg approximately 20 days ago. The wound was promptly sutured following a brief period of bleeding. Clinical examination revealed a large pulsatile mass close to the laceration site, which was remained ignored up to this visit. The patient exhibited greater impairment in dorsiflexion strength of the thumb compared to the other digits, while ankle dorsiflexion was relatively preserved. Notably, there was no apparent sensory deficit. Nerve conduction studies showed absent deep peroneal nerve (DPN) CMAP from extensor digitorum brevis muscle, while other NCS including superficial peroneal nerve SNAP were normal. Electromyography showed acute neurogenic process in right extensor digitorum longus and extensor hallucis longus muscles, indicating axonal injury to branches of DPN. Given the findings, a pseudoaneurysm leading to compartment syndrome and subsequent injury to DPN was suspected. A soft tissue and color Doppler ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of right anterior tibial artery (ATA) pseudoaneurysm with two pouches in sizes of 49*25 and 26*3.7 mm2. The patient eventually underwent hematoma drainage and surgical repair of ATA pseudoaneurysm.
Conclusion
Clinical presentation of weakness, paresthesia are common symptoms to raise a suspicion of nerve injury; however, paying more attention to lately presented pain and swelling, following penetrating injuries is crucial to not miss pseudoaneurysm as a rare underlaying cause of nerve injury. Along with fatal complications of pseudoaneurysm such as rupture, compression-related complications could be avoided with prompt diagnosis and appropriate management of pseudoaneurysms. |