[Arterial thrombosis of the femoro-popliteal axis. An exceptional case of vascular complication by exostosis (author's transl)].

The authors report an exceptional case of arterial thrombosis of the femoro-popliteal axis, caused by a bony exostosis of the femur. It was a man of 48 years, presenting with sub-acute ischemia of the left lower limb. The different examinations showed an extensive femoro-popliteal artery thrombosis centered by a bony exostosis of the inferior third of the femur. The patient was successfully operated upon with resection of the exostosis and saphenous vein femoro-popliteal by-pass. A review of the literature shows the rarity of vascular complication of exostosis and particularly of thrombosis, previously reported only 4 times. An explanation of the mechanism involves the repeated trauma on the artery in this narrow region and the possibility of superimposed atheroma.