Unusual arterial complications caused by an osteochondroma of the femur or tibia in young patients.

In the past 2 years three relatively young patients were treated for a severe arterial complication due to an exostosis of the femur or tibia. A 39-year-old man had occlusion of the femoral artery, a 28-year-old man suffered from a popliteal pseudoaneurysm, and a 14-year-old boy presented with occlusion of his femoral artery while stretching his leg. An exostosis on the course of the femoral or popliteal artery, requires additional examination (duplex ultrasonography and magnetic resonance arteriography) in order to exclude an arterial disorder. If arterial compression by an exostosis is shown, an operative procedure to remove the exostosis should be performed.