Lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the available evidence on lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome with specific reference to patient demographics, aetiology, types, diagnosis, clinical features, and treatment. This was an Institutional Review Board-exempt study performed at a Level 1 trauma center. A PubMed search was conducted with the title query: lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome. Eleven articles met our search criteria. Three of the patients with acute paraspinal compartmental syndrome treated with fasciotomy had a full recovery and were able to resume skiing after four months. The aetiology of the onset of lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome is broadly divided into acute and chronic. Lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome is one of the causes of back pain with diagnostic clinical features which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a patient with low back pain. Prospective multicentre trials may provide the surgeon with more insight into the diagnosis and management of lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome.