title: Characteristics of patients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition that causes reversible ischemia and lower extremity pain during exercise. To date there are few large studies examining the characteristics of patients with CECS. This study aimed to present these characteristics by examining the largest published series of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of the disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  An IRB-approved, retrospective review was undertaken of patients with a suspected diagnosis of CECS undergoing pre- and postexercise compartment pressure testing between 2000 and 2012. Patients were evaluated for gender, age, duration of symptoms, pain level, specific compartments involved, compartment pressure measurements, and participation and type of athletics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two-hundred twenty-six patients (393 legs) underwent compartment pressure testing. A diagnosis of CECS was made in 153 (67.7%) patients and 250 (63.6%) legs with elevated compartment measurements; average age of the patients was 24 years (range, 13-69 years). Female patients accounted for 92 (60.1%) of those with elevated pressures. Anterior and lateral compartment pressures were elevated most frequently, with 200 (42.5%) and 167 (35.5%) compartments, respectively. One hundred forty-one (92.2%) patients reported participation in sports, with running being the most common individual sport and soccer being the most common team sport. Duration of pain prior to diagnosis averaged 28 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is ample literature pertaining to the diagnostic criteria and treatment algorithm of the condition, few papers have described the type of patient most likely to develop CECS. This is the largest study to date to evaluate the type of patient likely to present with chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level III, retrospective review.
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University Department of Orthopaedics, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raikin
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Garras
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitanzo
authors.forename: Hallie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Labrador
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espandar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: chronic; compartment syndrome; exertional; sports