Bilateral chronic compartment syndrome in the forearm and the hand

• Published in: Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume Vol. 78; no. 5; pp. 780 - 782
• Main Author: Soderberg, Thor A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery 01.09.1996; British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery
• Edition: British volume
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chronic Disease; Compartment Syndromes - diagnosis; Compartment Syndromes - etiology; Compartment Syndromes - surgery; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Exercise; Fasciotomy; Forearm; Hand; Humans; Male; Manometry; Medical sciences; Pain - etiology; Pressure; Human; Cardiovascular disease; Male; Hand; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Case study; Striated muscle disease; Chronic; Forearm; Disease of the hand; Adult; Upper limb; Compartment syndrome
• ISSN: 0301-620X; 2049-4394; 2044-5377; 2049-4408
• DOI: 10.1302/0301-620x.78b5.0780780

We report two cases of bilateral chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CCS) in the forearm and hand. Measurement of the intramuscular pressure was useful for diagnosis. These two cases illustrate that bilateral CCS should be suspected in patients complaining of bilateral exercise-induced pain in the anconeus muscle, the forearms, the thenar and hypothenar regions and in the first dorsal interosseous muscle. Fasciotomy relieved the pain in both cases.