J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2022 Sep;26(3):136-142. 10.14193/jkfas.2022.26.3.136.

Comparison between Surgical and Conservative Treatments in Isolated Lateral Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg: A Case Report

• Gwak HC
• Seo YC
• Jung SH
• Kim DY

• KMID: 2533196
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2022.26.3.136

Abstract

Lateral compartment syndrome of the lower leg is rarely observed. Hence, there may be difficulty in diagnosis as its clinical patterns are different and more complicated than usual. We report two rare cases of a 20-year-old and a 28-year-old diagnosed with isolated lateral compartment syndrome who had either a surgical or conservative treatment. The comparison was done by analyzing the progression of neurological manifestation, electromyography, and nerve conduction study for two years. In the final follow-up, the patient who underwent the surgical treatment showed a shorter recovery time. However, both patients showed a full recovery from neurologic deficits.

Keyword

Compartment syndromes; Peroneal nerve; Leg; Fasciotomy; Electromyography

Figure

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  Figure 1 Right side lower leg magnetic resonance imaging taken for 20-year-old man. Signal increase is shown limited to peroneus longus muscle and peroneus brevis muscle. (A) T2-weighted axial image with fat suppression. (B) T1-weighted axial image with gadolinium enhancement.

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  Figure 2 Surgical treatment was done for 20-year-old man who was diagnosed with isolated lateral compartment syndrome in the lower leg. After fasciotomy and debridement, aseptic dressing was done with the surgical site opened and tightening was done with surgical loop. Figures are taken in 1 day postoperatively.

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  Figure 3 After initial surgery, surgical site came out to be clean in 20-yearold man with isolated lateral compartment syndrome. Secondary suture was done in 15 days postoperatively. Drainage tube was also inserted.

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  Figure 4 At 6 months postoperatively, rangeof-motion of ankle dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, and greater toe extension recovered almost same level as unaffected side.

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  Figure 5 Right side lower leg magnetic resonance imaging taken for 28-year-old man. Signal increase is shown in peroneus longus muscle and peroneus brevis muscle in T2-weighted images.

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