MR diagnosed chronic exertional compartment syndrome successfully treated by endoscopically-assisted fasciotomy

Abstract

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is a subset of compartment syndrome that most frequently affects the lower extremities, often in athletic persons. It is most often characterized by calf pain shortly after the initiation of exercise and resolution of the pain soon after rest. While the pathophysiology is not completely understood, it is believed that compartment a lack of fascial compliance and increased compartment fluid leads to increased pressure, ultimately leading to a reversible ischemic state. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome was once considered a diagnosis of exclusion; however, needle manometry is an invasive way to measure intracompartmental pressure. Similarly, fasciotomy is the treatment of choice but is not without complications. We describe a case of chronic exertional compartment syndrome diagnosed by two-stage MRI and successfully treated by endoscopically-assisted fasciotomy.

Keywords

• Chronic exertional compartment syndrome
• Fasciotomy
• MRI