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Anterior compartment syndrome of the leg, a clinical‐anatomical perspective: A case report
Author(s) -
Ger Ralph,
Weitz Jean,
Scott Paul
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2353(1998)11:6<421::aid-ca9>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - medicine , compartment (ship) , decompression , surgical decompression , perspective (graphical) , surgery , compartment syndromes , anesthesia , oceanography , artificial intelligence , analgesic , geology , computer science
Decompression of the fascial compartments of the leg is a fairly common procedure that is carried out therapeutically and prophylactically. It is submitted that the guidance offered by the average surgical texts are unclear and imprecise. A junior surgeon would be led to believe that all four compartments require decompression, whereas it is distinctly uncommon for compartments other than the anterior to suffer compression. Anatomic reasons are offered for this predilection. The incisions advised often extend the full length of the leg; not only is this unneccessary but considerable morbidity may result. A case report is presented which underlines the result of an ill placed incision and unfamiliarity with the detailed anatomy of the anterolateral leg muscles. An incision is suggested which is very unlikely to lead to failure to decompress and which should avoid complications. Clin. Anat. 11:421‐423, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.