Presentation of compartment syndrome without an obvious cause can delay treatment. A case report.

Compartment syndrome is a serious condition which leads to chronic morbidity unless an urgent decompression of the affected area is performed. An increased intra compartmental pressure commonly occurs after a physical insult though rarer causes have been identified. We report an atypical presentation of compartment syndrome and subsequent delayed intervention where there was no identifiable aetiological factor. Frontline medical staff must rule out compartment syndrome early so that complications secondary to compartment syndrome can be avoided.