A spontaneous compartment syndrome in a patient with diabetes

Abstract

A compartment syndrome is an orthopaedic emergency which can result from a variety of causes, the most common being trauma. Rarely, it can develop spontaneously and several aetiologies for spontaneous compartment syndrome have been described. We describe a patient with diabetes who developed a spontaneous compartment syndrome. The diagnosis was delayed because of the atypical presentation.

Diabetic Myonecrosis Mimicking Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Thigh

“…Spontaneous compartment syndrome following DM is extremely rare and very few cases have been reported in the literature affecting the leg but none in the thigh muscles [15][16][17][18][19]. In all the cases following fasciotomy, patients ended up with either foot drop or weak dorsiflexion and prolonged rehabilitation times.…”

Reconstruction of the Foot After Leg or Foot Compartment Syndrome

“…Patients may have late deformity because of a failure of diagnosis, inadequate decompression, or a delay in fasciotomies. 32 Late reconstruction will allow a plantigrade and relatively functional foot. Complete excision of scarred muscle will prevent recurrence in established deformities.…”

Intermittent claudication in diabetes mellitus due to chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the leg: An observational study of 17 patients

“…It is obvious that the variation was much higher in diabetics, and some of them consistently had very high pressures. limitation of physically activity because of pain reduces the risk, since spontaneous muscle necrosis has only been reported occasionally in diabetics (Pamoukian et al 2000, Jose et al 2004. One proposed explanation for diabetic neuropathy is the double-crush syndrome, i.e.…”

“…Occasional cases of compartment syndrome of the leg in diabetic patients have been reported, but these have been acute compartment syndromes due to muscle necrosis, requiring emergency surgery (Pamoukian et al 2000, Jose et al 2004). …”