Chronic Compartment Syndrome in Athletes

Abstract

Chronic compartment syndrome (CCS) is a pressure increase within a non-expandable fibro-osseous space resulting from continuous and intense physical activity. Its symptoms usually improve with rest or reduced activity. It is a critical cause of lower limb pain in athletes and the second most common cause of effort-related leg pain. Less frequent reports include CCS in the lumbar paravertebral compartments, in the hand, the forearm, the thigh, and the foot. Although CCS mainly affects long-distance runners, it may also occur in sports such as lacrosse, football, basketball, skiing, and field hockey. Muscle tension, cramps, symptoms worsening with physical exercise, pain, and reduced sensitivity in the upper part of the foot are the main CCS findings, and diagnosis is essentially clinical. Even though controversial and with some limitations, CCS diagnosis has relied on measuring the intracompartmental pressure after exercise. However, new alternative tools are under study, particularly those less invasive, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after the exercise protocol. For years, open fasciotomy was the most relevant treatment for CCS in athletes, but new surgical techniques are gaining importance, such as minimally-invasive fasciotomy and endoscopic procedures. Some conservative therapies hold promise as potential alternatives for patients who do not want surgery, but robust evidence to support them remains lacking, especially for athletes.

Keywords: athletes; compartment syndromes; sports injuries; sports medicine.

Fig. 1

A transverse section of the leg shows the four compartments, namely, the anterior compartment (containing the tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, and fibularis tertius muscles), the lateral compartment (composed of the peroneus longus and brevis muscles), the superficial posterior compartment (containing the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles), and the deep posterior compartment (containing the tibialis posterior and the flexor digitorum longus muscles).

Fig. 1

Corte transversal da perna, evidenciando os quatro compartimentos: o compartimento anterior, onde se alocam os músculos tibial anterior, extensores longos dos dedos dos pés, extensor longo do hálux e fibular terceiro, o compartimento lateral composto pelos músculos fibular longo e curto, o compartimento superficial posterior composto pelos músculos gastrocnêmio, sóleo e plantares e o compartimento posterior profundo contendo o músculo tibial posterior e os flexores longos dos dedos dos pés.