Perineural Injection Therapy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Refractory to Initial Compartment Release: A Case Report.

This is a case of a 26-year-old active duty male with a 1-year history of distal anterolateral leg pain and numbness which would persist following activity cessation. He was referred to physical therapy and eventually orthopedic surgery for bilateral anterior exertional compartment syndrome and underwent bilateral anterolateral fasciotomies. One year after surgery, he continued to have pain along the posterior aspect of his lower legs with residual numbness over his left dorsomedial foot. He was referred to sports medicine for further evaluation and Botox injections without significant symptomatic changes. He subsequently underwent diagnostic ultrasound of his lower legs which showed multiple entrapment points of the left superficial peroneal nerve along the fasciotomy scar. An additional electrodiagnostic study showed left superficial peroneal sensory mononeuropathy. Eighteen months following surgery, he received his first perineural injection therapy (PIT) treatment. A mixture of lidocaine and D5W was prepared to achieve 1 mg/cc which was then injected along his tibial, saphenous, and sural nerves. Following four PIT sessions, the patient's overall lower extremity pain, weakness, and functionality had improved. This case demonstrates potential benefit with PIT in patients with refractory symptoms following surgery for chronic exertional compartment syndrome. These symptoms may be due to chronic irritation of cutaneous nerves and they may benefit from treatment with PIT. Our case may represent a possible paradigm shift in the conservative treatment of chronic exertional compartment syndrome, especially when refractory to surgical compartment release.

Acute Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg Following Brief Activity: A Case Report.

CASE: A 26-year-old man presented to the emergency department with atraumatic right leg pain after a period of low-impact activity. He was discharged and returned 3 days later with findings of acute compartment syndrome. CONCLUSION: We present a case of delayed diagnosis of acute exertional compartment syndrome (AECS) in the setting of rhabdomyolysis, leading to detrimental sequelae. Practitioners with a high degree of clinical suspicion can make a prompt and accurate diagnosis by physical examination alone, allowing early treatment of AECS.

Compartment syndrome of the leg after thyroid hormone withdrawal; two cases and a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Acute compartment syndrome is a rare complication of severe hypothyroidism. If the symptoms are not recognized promptly and treatment initiated immediately, there is a high risk of permanent damage. Only few other cases of compartment syndrome due to hypothyroidism have been published and the exact pathophysiological mechanism remains unknown. CASE PRESENTATIONS: A 59 year old male developed acute compartment syndrome of his right lower leg after thyroid hormone withdrawal prior to radioiodine remnant ablation after total thyroidectomy for follicular thyroid cancer. He underwent emergency fasciotomy of all four compartments of the lower leg. The muscle tissue in the anterior and lateral compartment was necrotic and was therefore excised. The second patient was a 62 year old female with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, who developed acute compartment syndrome of both lower legs after thyroid hormone withdrawal due to non-compliance. Emergency fasciotomy of all four compartments of both legs was performed. The muscle tissue was viable in all compartments. CONCLUSION: Although compartment syndrome due to hypothyroidism is uncommon, it is a complication physicians should be aware of. The majority of reported cases are caused by an acute withdrawal of thyroid hormones and not by undetected hypothyroidism. No previous case of compartment syndrome caused by an iatrogenic hormone withdrawal in preparation for radioactive iodine has been published. However, as shown in this report, it may be beneficial to inform patients of this rare complication prior to hormone withdrawal in preparation for remnant ablation after thyroidectomy.

Ultrasound-Guided Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome: A Case Report.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is characterized by an excessive increase in intracompartmental muscle pressures after exercise. Athletes with CECS report pain, pressure, and occasionally neurologic symptoms in the affected compartment during exercise that abates with rest. Although many treatment options have been proposed, athletes often require a fasciotomy to return to unrestricted sports participation. Surgical success rates vary; complications are not uncommon; and after surgery, it usually takes athletes 6 or more weeks to return to unrestricted impact activities. This case report describes a new ultrasound-guided fasciotomy technique for the treatment of anterior leg compartment CECS. The procedure required a 3 mm incision, was performed in the office under local anesthesia, and allowed the athlete to resume running within 1 week of the procedure. Although the preliminary results of this study are promising, further translational research is required before the widespread adoption of this procedure is recommended.

Arm Fasciotomy Through Lateral Approach.

Acute compartment syndrome represents one of the few true orthopaedic emergencies. Timely management is essential to prevent permanent sequelae. This video describes a case of acute compartment syndrome of the arm. Relevant patient history, physical examination, and laboratory findings are discussed, and a presentation of the operative technique for arm fasciotomy through a lateral approach is highlighted. Diagnostic criteria for acute compartment syndrome and indications for fasciotomy are reviewed, with a discussion of published outcomes after fasciotomy.

A cadaveric model of anterior compartment leg syndrome: Subcutaneous minimally invasive fasciotomy versus open fasciotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Because of disabling sequelae of open fasciotomy in anterior compartment syndrome (ACS) of the leg, we wanted to describe and validate a cadaveric model of ACS. We hypothesized that, first, anterior compartment syndrome (ACS) could be reproduced in cadaveric leg and, second, fasciotomy without complete skin incision could lower the intramuscular pressure (IMP) in an equivalent range to complete dermatofasciotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lower limb ACS was reproduced by progressive injection of physiologic serum in the anterior compartment of 23 fresh frozen cadaveric legs with monitoring of IMP, in order to reach a maximal stabilised IMP higher than 30mmHg. Subcutaneous minimally invasive fasciotomy was performed on 14 legs through 5 transversal mini-incisions of the skin (2cm) along the axis from the tibial tuberosity to the posterior aspect of the lateral malleolus. Standard open fasciotomy of the anterior compartment was performed on the remaining 9 legs as control. IMP was measured after the skin incisions and after every fasciotomy through skin incisions in the first group and after skin and fascia incisions in the control group. RESULTS: A maximal IMP of 43±2mmHg was obtained by injection of 177±9ml physiologic serum into the anterior compartment of the leg. In the control open fasciotomy group, the skin incision alone did not lower IMP significantly, whereas fasciotomy lowered IMP to 10±1mmHg, which is statistically different from maximal IMP (p<0.001). In the subcutaneous fasciotomy group, complete fasciotomy lowered significantly the IMP to 11±4mmHg (p<0.001), without statistical difference with the control group. DISCUSSION: This cadaveric model is effective to reproduce the hyperpressure encountered in ACS. In this model, IMP release after fasciotomy is as efficient through minimally invasive subcutaneous incision as with control open fasciotomy. This in vitro technique appears as an attractive alternative treatment in anterior compartment syndrome of the leg. It should be tested in the other compartments of the leg and its in vivo feasibility in acute conditions has to be clarified. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, control laboratory study.

Superficial Peroneal Nerve Injury Risk During a Semiblind Fasciotomy for Anterior Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg: An Anatomical and Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND:: Up to 8% of patients who underwent a fasciotomy for leg anterior chronic exertional compartment syndrome (ant-CECS) report sensory deficits suggestive of iatrogenic superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) injury. In the current study we aimed to thoroughly assess the risk of SPN injury during a semiblind fasciotomy of the anterior compartment using 2 separate approaches. METHODS:: A modified semiblind fasciotomy of the anterior compartment was performed via a longitudinal 2-cm skin incision 2 cm lateral of the anterior tibial crest halfway along the line fibular head-lateral malleolus both in cadaver legs and in patients with ant-CECS. In the cadaver legs, the skin was removed after the procedure and possible SPN injuries and spatial relationships between the SPN and the opened fascia were studied. Between January 2013 and December 2016, 64 ant-CECS patients who underwent a fasciotomy of the anterior compartment were prospectively followed. Iatrogenic SPN injuries were assessed using questionnaires and physical examinations. RESULTS:: Macroscopic SPN nerve injury was not observed in any of the 9 cadaver legs. In 8 specimens, the SPN was located at least 5 mm posterolateral to the opened fascia. In 1 specimen, an undamaged SPN branch crossed the operative field in a ventral plane. De novo sensory deficits suggestive for iatrogenic SPN injury were not observed in any of the 64 patients (120 legs; 36 females; median age, 22 years) who underwent a fasciotomy of the anterior compartment. CONCLUSION:: The proposed semiblind fasciotomy for treatment of ant-CECS was not associated with SPN injury in either the cadaveric study or our clinical series. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: Level IV, case series.

Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) can negatively affect exercise and activity and may require operative intervention to release the fascia. Few studies have evaluated or compared patient-reported outcomes for bilateral versus single-leg staged fasciotomy and number of compartments released. METHODS: A total of 27 eligible patients who underwent a fasciotomy procedure for CECS at a single institution were identified. A retrospective review of the medical record was performed, and individuals were contacted by phone to collect patient-reported outcomes, including ability to return to desired exercise level, postoperative expectation assessment, European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions, and the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure sports subscale. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients were available for follow-up (average follow-up 36.9 months). The average single numeric assessment evaluation of lower-extremity function in sport was 87.5% in those who underwent a simultaneous bilateral fasciotomy (n = 10), 94% in those who had a staged unilateral fasciotomy (n = 5), and 74% in those who underwent an isolated single-leg fasciotomy. In all, 91% (n = 10) of patients who had all 4 compartments released intra-operatively were able to return to their desired exercise level versus 66.7% (n = 6) of those who did not have all 4 compartments released. CONCLUSION: The patient-reported outcomes of a staged unilateral fasciotomy and simultaneous bilateral fasciotomy for CECS are similar. Those who did not have all 4 compartments released reported worse outcomes. Further research should be conducted on the short-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness of a bilateral versus staged fasciotomy procedure. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Level IV: Case series.

Well-leg compartment syndrome after laparoscopic low anterior resection for lower rectal cancer in the lithotomy position: A case report.

A 64-year-old man underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection for lower rectal cancer. Because he was overweight (BMI, 28.1 kg/m2 ) with rich visceral fat and a narrow pelvic cavity, the operation was technically difficult and the operation time was 686 min. Postoperatively, the patient immediately complained of pain and swelling of the left lower limb. Laboratory examination showed that serum creatinine kinase was markedly increased and urine myoglobin was positive on postoperative day 1. He was diagnosed with well-leg compartment syndrome and was transported to the trauma and critical care center for emergency fasciotomy. After initial treatment, he was transferred to our hospital on postoperative day 7. He completely recovered after 2 months. Although well-leg compartment syndrome is rare, it is necessary to consider it as a potential complication when performing a long colorectal cancer surgery with the patient in the lithotomy position, particularly when laparoscopic surgery is planned.

Is external fixation needed for the treatment of tibial fractures with acute compartment syndrome?

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) after tibial fracture carries a risk of various complications, including infection, delayed union, nonunion, nerve damage, and poor prognosis. For the treatment of fractures with ACS, fasciotomy is conducted, and the method to stabilise the fracture has to be considered. Thirty-five patients who underwent surgery for ACS with tibial shaft fractures were evaluated, and the results of initial internal fixation (Group I, 20 patients) and initial external fixation (Group II, 15 patients) were analysed. The mean age was 41 years. Five patients needed additional surgery for bone union. Complications occurred in 4 cases, but no deep infection was reported. The time to bone union, the need for additional surgery, and the incidence of complications in Group I and Group II were not statistically different. For the treatment of ACS with tibial fracture, immediate internal fixation and changing from external fixation to internal fixation did not affect the clinical course.

Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Leg.

INTRODUCTION: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is well known among orthopaedic surgeons. The timely diagnosis and management of ACS is crucial to avoiding its sequelae, including renal failure, ischemic contractures, and limb loss. Despite its relative importance, ACS poses a challenge to many residents and clinicians as diagnosis relies largely on clinical judgment. METHODS: Timely diagnosis and thorough compartment release are essential to optimizing outcomes in ACS. This video highlights a clinical case in which compartment syndrome of the leg was considered, diagnosed, and surgically managed. RESULTS: This video will present the indications for compartment release and a video-guided demonstration of compartment checks using an arterial line transducer, a 4-compartment fasciotomy with 2 incisions, and temporizing vessel loop closure. CONCLUSIONS: Compartment syndrome can be a devastating complication of common fractures. It is essential that orthopaedic practitioners understand the immediacy of intervention. We have a responsibility to provide timely, accurate diagnosis along with expedient surgical management.

[Intra-articulair tibial Plateau Fractures]. / Intraartikuläre Tibiakopffrakturen.

Tibial plateau fractures are complex articular injuries, especially if caused by high energy. For adequate treatment a decidedly clinical and radiographic diagnostic is required. The three-column-concept has proven as excellent surgical planningstool in this complex trauma. By (1) precisely considering the specific characteristics of the fracture, (2) careful treatment of soft-tissue envelope and (3) choosing the right treatment strategy, a good functional outcome can be achieved.

Ultrasound-Guided Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome: A Cadaveric Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a common cause of exertional leg pain. It is commonly treated with a surgical fasciotomy, which has a surgical complication rate of up to 16% and takes approximately 6-12 weeks to return to preprocedure activity levels. Therefore, the development of a less invasive, effective outpatient intervention to treat CECS is desirable. OBJECTIVE: To describe and validate an ultrasound-guided (USG) fasciotomy technique for the anterior and lateral compartments of the lower limb in an unembalmed cadaveric model. DESIGN: Prospective, cadaveric laboratory investigation. SETTING: Academic institution procedural skills laboratory. SUBJECTS: Ten unembalmed cadaveric knee-ankle-foot specimens from 1 female (2 specimens) and 7 male donors aged 62-91 years (mean 78.6 years) with body mass indices of 18.9-35.3 kg/m2 (mean 27.1 kg/m2). METHODS: Two experienced operators each performed USG anterior and lateral compartment fasciotomies on 5 unembalmed cadaveric legs. A third physician subsequently dissected the legs to assess the continuity of the fasciotomies and to identify any neurovascular damage related to the procedures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fasciotomy length (in centimeters) and classification by completeness (achieved target length or did not achieve target length) and continuity (continuous or discontinuous) based on predetermined criteria. Muscles, retinaculae, and neurovascular structures were assessed for damage. RESULTS: No neurovascular injuries occurred in any of the 20 USG fasciotomies. The average fasciotomy length was 22.5 cm. All 20 of the fasciotomies achieved the target length. A continuous cephalocaudal fasciotomy was accomplished in 13 of 20 fasciotomies. When a fasciotomy was not continuous, the average length and number of intact fascial bands was 1.52 cm and 2.3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: USG fasciotomy of the anterior and lateral leg compartments can be safely performed in a cadaveric model and can achieve a fasciotomy length comparable to surgical fasciotomy. Most procedures successfully achieved a continuous cephalocaudal fasciotomy, although small areas of intact fascial bands were identified in approximately one-third of procedures. The clinical significance of this finding is indeterminate. Given the safety demonstrated with this minimally invasive USG fasciotomy in a cadaveric model, further research is warranted to develop and refine the technique for clinical application. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Not applicable.

Ultrasound-Guided Fasciotomy for Anterior Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is characterized by exertional pain and elevated intracompartmental pressures affecting the leg in physically active young people. In patients who have failed conservative measures, fasciotomy is the treatment of choice. This study presents a new method for performing fasciotomy using high-resolution ultrasound (US) guidance and reports on the clinical outcomes in a group of these patients. Over a 3-year period, 7 consecutive patients with a total of 9 involved legs presented clinically with anterior compartment chronic exertional compartment syndrome, which was confirmed by intracompartmental pressure measurements before and after exercise. After a US examination, fasciotomy under US guidance was performed. Preoperative and postoperative pain and activity levels were assessed as well as number of days needed to "return to play." All patients had a decrease in pain, and all except 1 returned to presymptomatic exercise levels with a median return to play of 35 days.

Comparison of 2 available methods with Bland-Altman analysis for measuring intracompartmental pressure.

BACKGROUND: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is the result of increased intracompartmental pressure (ICP), and to avoid a delay in diagnosis requires ICP measurement. This study was designed to compare 2 available methods with Bland-Altman analysis for measuring ICP in experimental animal models, healthy volunteers, and patients with suspected ACS to evaluate their agreement and interchangeability. METHODS: In 20 New Zealand White rabbits, we inflated a tourniquet to stop arterial blood flow to establish ACS rabbit models, of which ICP was measured and recorded by the Whitesides apparatus and the invasive arterial blood pressure monitor system (IABPMS) before and after modeling. The same 2 measurements were applied to the tibialis anterior compartment's ICP of 30 healthy volunteers. The experimental data were analyzed using the Bland-Altman method. Once it was considered to be a substitute for the Whitesides apparatus based on statistical analysis, we used IABPMS to measure the ICP of the patients suspected of having ACS to estimate its clinical prospect. RESULTS: The rabbit models' ICP estimated by the Whitesides apparatus and IABPMS were 9.60±2.74 and 9.55±2.33 mm Hg, with an increase to 30.20±4.44 and 30.05±4.58 mm Hg after modeling, respectively. The limits of agreement for the ICP were -2.01/2.11 and -2.41/2.71 mm Hg before and after model establishment. The healthy volunteers' ICP were 10.92±6.06 and 10.85±5.87 mm Hg; the limits of agreement for the ICP were -2.53/2.66 mm Hg. With IABPMS to continuously monitor the ICP increasing (40.45±10.42 vs 13.82±4.94 mm Hg) and ΔP (34.54±11.77 mm Hg) to guide the diagnosis of ACS, 5 of 11 patients underwent the emergency fasciotomy for decompression. CONCLUSION: The invasive pressure monitoring via IABPMS can be used as an alternative to the Whitesides method, thanks to the sufficient agreement between the 2 methods in ICP measurement, and also for its advantages recommended as a novel diagnostic approach to ACS in experimental and clinical applications.

A Single-Incision Fasciotomy for Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg.

Lower leg fasciotomy may be performed with a single lateral incision with or without fibulectomy, or by a double incision technique, with most surgeons preferring the later. The aim of this article is to describe a variation of an existing single-incision technique that will allow for the release of all four compartments with 1 incision. Our approach uses a paratibial route to release the deep posterior compartment (DPC) rather than a transfibular or parafibular route that has already been discussed in the literature. We approach the DPC from the anterior compartment, whereas the parafibular approach uses the posterior aspect of the fibula to reach the DPC. This affords a faster fasciotomy with a smaller flap, avoids potential damage to neurovascular bundle and among other advantages, makes its especially pragmatic for bedside fasciotomy, without the risk of injury to the peroneal nerves, which is common with dissection at the posterior aspect of the fibula.

Compartment Syndrome of the Leg Associated With Fracture: An Algorithm to Avoid Releasing the Posterior Compartments.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to report on a prospective series of patients in whom an algorithm was used to attempt to avoid releasing the posterior compartments in patients with lower leg compartment syndrome (CS) and the safety of such a practice. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of 39 patients was managed by one surgeon for CS using the reported protocol. INTERVENTION: Patients diagnosed with a CS of the leg were managed with a single operative protocol. After a standard anterior and lateral compartment release through a full-length lateral incision was performed, the superficial and deep posterior compartments were measured with the heel resting on a bolster. Using the preoperative diastolic blood pressure, a ΔP < 30 was considered to be a positive finding warranting a separate medial incision for release of the posterior compartments. If the ΔP was ≥30, the posterior compartments were not released. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Need for medial release or development of posterior CS or sequelae. RESULTS: A consecutive series of 39 patients were managed by 1 surgeon for CS using the described protocol. Two patients with an isolated posterior CS were excluded. The other 37 had clinical symptoms or compartment pressures consistent with anterior compartment involvement. Of 37 patients, 21 had (57%) symptoms suggesting posterior compartment involvement. The preoperative pressure measurements averaged 41 mm Hg with an average ΔP of 38. After full-length release of the anterior and lateral compartments, only 3/37 (8%) required a posterior release for a ΔP of <30 mm Hg. The lowest ΔP in the posterior compartments of the remaining 34 patients averaged 59 (32-86). The compartment pressures in the superficial and deep posterior compartments decreased by 22 mm Hg and 24 mm Hg, respectively, after the anterolateral release. None of the patients who had only an anterolateral release developed sequelae of a missed posterior CS. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the reported algorithm is effective in avoiding posterior compartment release. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Infection and Nonunion After Fasciotomy for Compartment Syndrome Associated With Tibia Fractures: A Matched Cohort Comparison.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to compare the rates of union and infection in patients treated with and without fasciotomy for acute compartment syndrome (ACS) in operatively managed tibia fractures. DESIGN: This was a retrospective review. SETTING: The study was conducted at both a Level 1 and Level II trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Patients operated for tibial plateau fractures (group 1) and tibial shaft fractures (group 3) with ACS requiring fasciotomy were matched to patients without ACS (plateau: group 2, shaft: group 4) in a 1:3 ratio for age, sex, fracture pattern, and open/closed injury. INTERVENTION: Surgical treatment was provided with plates/screws (plateau fractures) or intramedullary rod (shaft fractures). Patients with ACS were treated with a 2-incision 4-compartment fasciotomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Time to union and incidence of deep infection, nonunion, and delayed union. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-four patients were included-group 1: 23 patients, group 2: 69 patients, group 3: 23 patients, and group 4: 69 patients. Time to union averaged 26.8 weeks for groups 1 and 3 and 21.5 weeks for groups 2 and 4 (P > 0.05). Nonunion occurred in 20% for groups 1 and 3 and in 5% for groups 2 and 4 (P = 0.003). Deep infection developed in 20% for groups 1 and 3 and in 4% for groups 2 and 4 (P = 0.001). There was a significant increase in infection in group 1 versus group 2 and nonunion in group 3 versus group 4. There were significantly more smokers for those with fasciotomies (46%) than without (20%, P < 0.001), though all statistical results remained similar after a binary regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Four-compartment fasciotomies in patients with tibial shaft or plateau fractures is associated with a significant increase in infection and nonunion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.