BILATERAL ACUTE-ON-CHRONIC EXERTIONAL LATERAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME OFTHE LEG - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Purpose: We report a previously undescribed case of bilateral acute ex ertional compartment syndrome of the lateral compartment arising from pre-existing chronic exertional compartment syndromes. Case summary: A 21-year-old football player had a 1-year history of bilateral chronic exertional compartment syndrome. One day after practice his usual sym ptoms progressed instead of abated and he presented at 3:00 AM with bi lateral acute lateral compartment syndromes. His lateral compartment p ressures were >100 mm Hg. Emergency surgical releases were performed a nd the patient recovered well with full return to competitive football in 4 weeks. Discussion: No prior case of acute-on-chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lateral compartment has been reported. In addition, this is a case of bilateral acute exertional compartment syn drome. The literature is reviewed with discussion of differential diag nosis, distribution, pathophysiology, and treatment of exertional comp artment syndrome. Relevance: Failure to recognize and emergently treat progression of a chronic to an acute exertional compartment syndrome can be devastating.