Chronic compartment syndrome of the legs: case report

Abstract

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) results from increased intracompartmental pressure in addition to osteofascial boundaries of these compartment. We included three patients diagnosed with chronic exertional compartment syndrome and exclusion by imaging test. Patients were underwent fasciotomy of the anterior and lateral compartment of legs. The patients returned to physical daily activity with improvement of the pain symptoms. The CECS has limitations as the main diagnostic method. There is the need of further studies that standardize the technique and the diagnostic criteria of blood­pressure measurement, and also actions to spread knowledge among medical specialties.