Fasciotomy for Lateral Lower-leg Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome.
Exercise-induced lower leg pain may be caused by chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS). Anterior or deep posterior compartments are usually affected. Knowledge about CECS of the lateral compartment (lat-CECS) is limited and outcome after fasciotomy is unknown. The purpose of this study is to report on success rates of fasciotomy in patients with lat-CECS. Surgical success rates in patients with lat-CECS diagnosed with a dynamic intracompartmental pressure (ICP) measurement were studied using a questionnaire (success: excellent or good as judged by the patient; unsuccessful: moderate, fair or poor). We conducted ICP measurements in 247 patients for suspected lat-CECS, of whom 78 were positively diagnosed. Following exclusion (n=11), 30 of the eligible 67 patients completed the questionnaire. Bilateral (70%, n=21/30) exertional pain (97%, n=29) and a feeling of tightness (93%, n=28) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Four years after fasciotomy, severity and frequency of symptoms had dropped significantly. Long-term surgical success was reported by 33% (n=10; excellent n=4, good n=6). Seventy-three percent (n=22) had resumed sports activities (9 same level, 13 lower level). In conclusion, a fasciotomy for lat-CECS was successful in the long term in just one of three operated patients in this retrospective study.
van Zantvoort APM
,de Bruijn JA
,Hundscheid HPH
,van der Cruijsen-Raaijmakers M
,Teijink JAW
,Scheltinga MR
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Fasciotomy for Deep Posterior Compartment Syndrome in the Lower Leg: A Prospective Study.
Patients with exercise-induced lower leg pain may suffer from deep posterior chronic exertional compartment syndrome (dp-CECS). Current evidence for the efficacy of surgery is based on retrospective studies. Effects of fasciotomy on symptoms associated with dp-CECS have not been systematically studied, and reasons for unsuccessful surgery are unknown.
To report the short- and long-term effects of fasciotomy on pain, tightness, and cramps in a prospective cohort of patients with isolated dp-CECS.
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Between September 2011 and January 2015, pain, tightness, cramps, muscle weakness, and diminished sensation were scored (5-item verbal rating scale ranging from very severe [5 points] to absent [1 point]) in patients with dp-CECS before and after fasciotomy. Outcomes were graded as excellent, good, moderate, fair, or poor. Fair and poor cases were again analyzed during a follow-up visit in the outpatient department.
Forty-four patients underwent surgery for isolated dp-CECS. Short-term follow-up (median, 4 months; range, 3-7 months) was complete in 42 of the 44 patients (95%; median patient age, 23 years; 23 male; 64 operated legs). Long-term follow-up (median, 27 months; range, 12-42 months) was complete in 34 of 37 eligible patients (92%). Before surgery, exertional pain was very severe (27%) or severe (61%). Fasciotomy improved all symptoms, both in the short term (preoperative vs postoperative pain, 4.1 ± 0.6 vs 2.3 ± 1.1; P < .001) and the long term (pain, 4.2 ± 0.6 vs 2.7 ± 1.3; P < .001). Levels of tightness, cramps, muscle weakness, and diminished sensation demonstrated similar significant improvements. Short- and long-term symptom scores did not differ. The short-term outcome was excellent in 29%, good in 29%, moderate in 21%, fair in 12%, and poor in 10% of patients. In the long term, outcomes were similar (excellent, 12%; good, 35%; moderate, 24%; fair, 18%; and poor, 12%). An unsatisfactory outcome (fair or poor) was often caused by alternative types of CECS (eg, anterior or lateral CECS) or to medial tibial stress syndrome. Based on their outcome, 76% of patients would opt for surgery again.
Fasciotomy was beneficial in 71% of patients with dp-CECS in the lower leg; 47% of study patients experienced a good to excellent outcome. Outcomes were stable in the long term. Persistent complaints were often caused by other untreated conditions.
Winkes MB
,van Zantvoort AP
,de Bruijn JA
,Smeets SJ
,van der Cruijsen-Raaijmakers M
,Hoogeveen AR
,Scheltinga MR
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Assessing outcomes in individuals undergoing fasciotomy for chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the leg.
The purposes of this study were to evaluate patient-reported outcomes after fasciotomy of the leg for chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) and to determine the rate at which revision surgery was required and the prognostic value of intracompartmental pressure (ICP) testing.
This was a retrospective consecutive case series of patients with CECS who underwent preoperative ICP testing and surgical fasciotomy for treatment of CECS of the leg between September 2001 and January 2012.
Of 69 eligible patients, 46 were evaluated at a mean follow-up time of 54.9 months (range, 3.9 to 127.3 months). Forty-two patients met the Pedowitz criteria for CECS diagnosis. Mean score on the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) was 70.4 (standard deviation [SD] ± 11.2) at follow-up and 72.3 (SD ± 11.2) at the patient-perceived time of best outcome. Best outcome was reported at a mean time of 14.3 months (range, 0.5 to 84 months). Five of 46 (11%) patients required a revision fasciotomy. Thirty-six of 46 (78%) patients reported being either satisfied (n = 14) or very satisfied (n = 22) at follow-up. The Pedowitz criteria were highly sensitive (97%) but not specific (10%) and had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 79%.
Functional outcomes after fasciotomy for CECS were favorable. ICP testing was shown to be sensitive but not specific. Revision surgery was required for 5 of the 46 patients (11%). Patient satisfaction rates, return to sport, return to preoperative activity levels, and LEFS scores were all high. This case series confirms that fasciotomy is a safe and effective surgical treatment for CECS.
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Pasic N
,Bryant D
,Willits K
,Whitehead D
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