Adductor Canal Outlet Syndrome

Abstract

On rare occasions, jogging, skiing, and other athletic activities can cause thrombosis of the superficial femoral artery at the outlet of Hunter's canal. We report three cases in which mechanical trauma of the femoral artery in Hunter's canal resulted in intimal tear and a segmentally localized thrombosis. It was confirmed by anatomic dissection that the intrinsic mechanical trauma occurred at the point where the femoral artery crosses the adductor magnus tendon. This tendon has been previously implicated as a cause of atherosclerotic stenosis and thrombosis. An awareness of its possible relationship to acute intimal injury and thrombosis may result in saving limbs that would otherwise be lost.