title: Ultrasound-Guided Fasciotomy for Anterior Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Leg.
abstract: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is characterized by exertional pain and elevated intracompartmental pressures affecting the leg in physically active young people. In patients who have failed conservative measures, fasciotomy is the treatment of choice. This study presents a new method for performing fasciotomy using high-resolution ultrasound (US) guidance and reports on the clinical outcomes in a group of these patients. Over a 3-year period, 7 consecutive patients with a total of 9 involved legs presented clinically with anterior compartment chronic exertional compartment syndrome, which was confirmed by intracompartmental pressure measurements before and after exercise. After a US examination, fasciotomy under US guidance was performed. Preoperative and postoperative pain and activity levels were assessed as well as number of days needed to "return to play." All patients had a decrease in pain, and all except 1 returned to presymptomatic exercise levels with a median return to play of 35 days.
authors.affiliation: Consell Catalá de l'Esport, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.|Clinica Diagonal, Barcelona Spain.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balius
authors.affiliation: Instituto Poal de Reumatologia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Hospital Asepeyo, Sant Cugat, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ardèvol
authors.affiliation: Clinica Diagonal, Barcelona Spain.|Clinica Mapfre de Medicina del Tenis, Barcelona, Spain.|Centre de Diagnóstic per la Imatge de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedret
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Hospital Asepeyo, Sant Cugat, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Codina
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Hospital Asepeyo, Sant Cugat, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalmau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000868:Anterior Compartment Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000071938:Fasciotomy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anterior myofascial compartment; chronic exertional compartment syndrome; fasciotomy; musculoskeletal ultrasound; superficial peroneal nerve; ultrasound