Key result
A 15-year-old female athlete with exertional calf pain initially treated with bilateral fasciotomies for suspected compartment syndrome was subsequently found to have a deficient posterior tibial arterial system.
Case Report (n=1)
Vascular etiologies like posterior tibial arterial system deficiency should be considered in athletes with exertional leg pain to avoid unnecessary procedures like fasciotomies.
CASE: A 15-year-old female competitive high school basketball player presented as an outpatient with a 3-month history of bilateral exertional calf pain. Patient history and compartment pressure measurements were consistent with the diagnosis of chronic exertional compartment syndrome, and the patient underwent bilateral fasciotomies. Postoperatively, her symptoms recurred and she was found to have a deficient posterior tibial arterial system bilaterally, as confirmed on advanced imaging. CONCLUSION: We advocate the careful consideration of vascular etiologies in athletes who present with exertional leg pain.
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Lavery et al. (2016) conducted a case report in Exertional calf pain mimicking chronic exertional compartment syndrome (n=1). Deficient posterior tibial arterial system was evaluated on Recurrence of symptoms and diagnosis of deficient posterior tibial arterial system. A 15-year-old female athlete with exertional calf pain initially treated with bilateral fasciotomies for suspected compartment syndrome was subsequently found to have a deficient posterior tibial arterial system.
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