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Case Reports
. 2015 Mar 18:2015:bcr2014208630.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-208630.

A delayed presentation of bilateral leg compartment syndrome following non-stop dancing

James Gordon Jefferies  1 , Tom Carter  1 , Tim Oliver White  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

A delayed presentation of bilateral leg compartment syndrome following non-stop dancing

James Gordon Jefferies et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

We present the case of a young man with a 48 h delayed presentation of bilateral lower limb acute compartment syndrome (ACS) affecting the anterior compartments following an extended period of dancing at a music festival. On making the diagnosis of ACS, the patient was immediately taken to theatre for fasciotomies and compartmental decompression. Repeat look fasciotomies revealed further necrosis to the muscles of the anterior compartments bilaterally and, effectively, all the muscle bellies within the anterior compartments were excised. The patient has been left with a significant functional deficit and disability. This case highlights the importance of timely diagnosis of ACS as delay in presentation can impact significantly on subsequent functional outcome and quality of life.

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