Exertional compartment syndromes of the lower extremity

Current Opinion in Rheumatology

Volumn 8, Issue 2, 1996, Pages 143-147

  Schepsis, Anthony A ^a   Lynch, Gregory ^a  

^a BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CLINICAL FEATURE; COMPARTMENT SYNDROME; HUMAN; ISOKINETIC EXERCISE; LEG PAIN; MOVEMENT THERAPY; NERVE COMPRESSION; NERVE DECOMPRESSION; PHYSICAL EXAMINATION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; REVIEW;

EID: 0029974995     PISSN: 10408711     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1097/00002281-199603000-00009     Document Type: Review

References (9)

1. Clanton T, Solcher B: Chronic leg pain in the athlete. Clin Sports Med 1994, 13:743-759. This paper reviews the common causes of chronic leg pain in the athlete. The clinical presentation, physical examination, and differential diagnosis are discussed. Most of the causes reviewed in this paper respond to conservative treatment. However, conditions such as chronic exertional compartment syndrome are more appropriately treated with surgery to improve an athlete's ability to return to activities.
2. Hutchinson M, Ireland M: Common compartment syndromes in athletes. Sports Med 1994, 17:200-208. This paper reviews all causes of compartment syndrome in the lower leg. It is noted that acute compartment syndrome presents in the course of athletic competition and that its diagnosis is imperative. The treatment of acute compartment syndrome differs from that of chronic compartment syndrome, which typically has a recurrent presentation after repetitive loading or exertional activities. With acute compartment syndrome, surgical decompression is the treatment of choice. With chronic exertional compartment syndrome, surgical treatment is indicated after failure of conservative measures. If the diagnosis of chronic exertional compartment syndrome is correct, decompression is associated with a high degree of success.
3. Eisele S, Sammarco G: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Instr Course Lect 1993, 42:213-217.
4. Kahan J, Trigg S, Burton D: Acute bilateral compartment syndrome of the thigh induced by exercise. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1994, 76:1066-1071.
5. Amendola A, Rorabeck C, Vellett D, Vezina W, Rutt B, Nott L: The use of magnetic resonance imaging in exertional compartment syndromes. Am J Sports Med 1990, 18:29-34.
6. Ward W, Eckardt J: Ganglion cyst of the proximal tibiofibular joint causing anterior compartment syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1994, 76:1561-1564.
7. Pedowitz R, Hargens A, Mubarak S, Gershuni D: Modified criteria for the objective diagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome of the leg. Am J Sports Med 1990, 18:35-40.
8. Schepsis A, Martini D, Corbett M: Surgical management of exertional compartment syndrome of the lower extremity. Am J Sports Med 1993, 2:811-817.
9. Abramowitz A, Schepsis A: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome. Orthop Rev 1994, 23:875-81. This review focuses on the clinical history, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lower leg. The most conclusive method for confirming the diagnosis of chronic exertional compartment syndrome has been shown to be measurement of muscle compartment pressures. These pressures may be significantly elevated compared with those in normal controls. The anterior compartment is the most frequently involved compartment, but occasionally the posterior compartment is also affected. A differential between posterior compartment involvement and a diagnosis of medial tibial syndrome is important to recognize. The results of fasciotomy of the anterior compartment are superior to those of fasciotomy of the posterior compartment.