The pathophysiology of the anterior tibial compartmental syndrome.

Based on a clinical review of 45 patients with acute anterior tibial ischemia, four different conditions were identified. Three were related to increased pressure within the compartment and were called anterior compartmental syndromes. They followed exercise, trauma, and ischemia. The fourth entity was anterior tibial ischemia due to anterial occlusion. An experimental investigation demonstrated that increased pressure within the anterior compartment slows blood flow to the enclosed tissues.