Acute compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening emergency that usually arises after high-energy trauma. Isolated lateral compartment syndrome with associated common peroneal nerve (CPN) palsy following low-energy injury is rare, especially in adolescents. To report a rare case of lateral compartment syndrome complicated by foot drop after a low-energy sports injury. A 17-year-old male with a healthy past medical history was admitted with severe left lateral leg pain, numbness, and foot drop 16 h following a fall during a football game. Emergency lateral compartment fasciotomy with exploration and release of the CPN. Intraoperative partial muscle necrosis was noted. Although the patient underwent decompression and rehabilitation, he continued to have foot drop in the postoperative period. Finally, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for compartment syndrome in adolescents with significant pain and neurologic deficits, even in the setting of low-energy trauma. Early surgical intervention is critical, although neurologic recovery can be limited.
Hamadan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.