Gluteal compartment syndrome due to rhabdomyolysis after heroin abuse.
We report a 30-year-old man who developed painful swelling of his right leg and complete sciatic nerve palsy after an i.v. injection of heroin. Excessive elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase indicated the presence of rhabdomyolysis. Fasciotomy of the gluteus maximus led to rapid and complete recovery from sciatic nerve palsy. Nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis may cause a gluteal compartment syndrome that requires immediate fasciotomy.
Klockgether
T
T
Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Germany.
Weller
M
M
Haarmeier
T
T
Kaskas
B
B
Maier
G
G
Dichgans
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002081:Buttocks; D003932:Heroin; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D013577:Syndrome
D003932:Heroin