Bilateral acute-on-chronic exertional lateral compartment syndrome of the leg: a case report and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: We report a previously undescribed case of bilateral acute exertional compartment syndrome of the lateral compartment arising from pre-existing chronic exertional compartment syndromes. CASE
SUMMARY: A 21-year-old football player had a 1-year history of bilateral chronic exertional compartment syndrome. One day after practice his usual symptoms progressed instead of abated and he presented at 3:00 AM with bilateral acute lateral compartment syndromes. His lateral compartment pressures were > 100 mm Hg. Emergency surgical releases were performed and the patient recovered well with full return to competitive football in 4 weeks. DISCUSSION: No prior case of acute-on-chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lateral compartment has been reported. In addition, this is a case of bilateral acute exertional compartment syndrome. The literature is reviewed with discussion of differential diagnosis, distribution, pathophysiology, and treatment of exertional compartment syndrome. RELEVANCE: Failure to recognize and emergently treat progression of a chronic to an acute exertional compartment syndrome can be devastating.