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Muscle changes in patients with diabetes and chronic exertional compartment syndrome before and after treatment with fasciotomy
Author(s) -
Edmundsson David S.,
Toolanen Göran L.,
Stål Per S.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.25715
Subject(s) - fasciotomy , medicine , diabetes mellitus , myopathy , surgery , tibialis anterior muscle , skeletal muscle , clinical trial , endocrinology
Muscle changes in patients with diabetes and lower leg pain due to chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) were investigated before and after fasciotomy. Methods: The tibialis anterior muscle was analyzed with histochemical and morphological techniques in 7 patients with diabetes and CECS before fasciotomy and in 5 of them 1 year after fasciotomy. Nondiabetic patients with CECS and healthy participants served as references. Results: Before treatment, walking distance until occurrence of pain was limited (<0.2 km). Intramuscular pressure was significantly higher than in reference participants. Muscle analysis showed changes pathognomonic for neuropathy and myopathy and a restricted capillary network, with significantly more severe changes in the muscles of patients with diabetes than in the muscles of nondiabetic patients. Treatment with fasciotomy improved clinical signs, increased walking ability, and reduced muscle abnormalities, but muscle capillarization remained low. Discussion: Patients with diabetes and CECS have distinct pathological changes in affected muscles. Pressure‐relieving fasciotomy triggers a regenerative response in the muscle tissue but not in the capillary bed. Muscle Nerve 57 : 229–239, 2018