PYOMYOSITIS OF THE ANTERIOR TIBIAL COMPARTMENT

Five oncology patients developed bacterial pyomyositis involving the a nterior tibial compartment and resulting in compartment syndrome with ischemia and abnormalities of neuromuscular function. All patients wer e neutropenic and thrombocytopenic, and four were receiving or had rec ently received cancer chemotherapy. Three infections were due to gram- negative bacilli and two to Staphylococcus aureus. Appropriate antimic robial therapy and surgical drainage in four patients resulted in the resolution of these infections with good residual muscle function. To our knowledge, primary pyomyositis has never previously been known to cause compartment syndrome.