Treatment of persistent sciatic artery with limb length discrepancy

Abstract

This case report describes the treatment of a five-year-old male with a persistent sciatic artery and significant limb-length discrepancy due to chronic ischemia. The patient presented with asymptomatic hypertension and was found to have left renal artery stenosis, and a Pillet-Gauffre Type 2a incomplete persistent sciatic artery. Surgical intervention involved an iliac-femoral bypass using a cadaveric superficial femoral artery to restore normal blood flow. Post-operative care included anticoagulation and aspirin therapy, with follow-up ultrasounds confirming patency. The report highlights the rarity of a persistent sciatic artery, its classification, and the importance of surgical management in pediatric cases to mitigate long-term morbidity associated with limb length discrepancy. Further research is needed on long-term outcomes of cadaveric arterial reconstructions in children.