Acute peroneal compartment syndrome in a well conditioned athlete: report of a case.

A case report of acute peroneal compartment syndrome occurring in a 25-year-old male softball player is presented, in which neuropraxia of the common peroneal nerve occurred within 8 hr after onset and in which complete recovery occurred after fasciotomy was done 13 hr after onset of symptoms. A plea is made for early diagnosis and complete fasciotomy carried out as a surgical emergency. This must be accomplished if results previously reported, indicating permanent disability in 80%, are to be improved.