title: A 45-year-old man presenting with anterior compartment syndrome three weeks following conservative treatment of an Achilles tendon rupture.
abstract: Compartment syndrome complicating a ruptured Achilles tendon has previously been reported in a surgically treated patient. However--to our knowledge--this is the first report of compartment syndrome following conservative treatment. A 45-year-old man ruptured his Achilles tendon and elected to have treatment in an equinus cast. Three weeks later, he developed compartment syndrome and despite fasciotomy, required surgical debridement of his anterior compartment. Delay in both diagnosis and subsequent fasciotomy resulted in a poor outcome. Any suspicion of compartment syndrome mandates early compartmental pressure monitoring. The exact aetiology is uncertain but we speculate that the equinus position of his ankle combined with weight-bearing, was a major contributing factor.
authors.affiliation: Auckland City Hospital, Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Niekerk
authors.forename: Farrah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jawad
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huntley
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCowan
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D000868:Anterior Compartment Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002370:Casts, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003646:Debridement; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012421:Rupture; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography