Isolated Lateral Calf Compartment Syndrome from a Sports Injury: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

A Block, K Y Liu, K Fitzsimmons, V Ramsaroop, M J Brown

Journal: JBJS case connector 2026;16(1):

PMID: 41505509

Abstract

CASE

A 17-year-old lacrosse player presented 2 days after ankle injury with increasing lateral calf pain and lateral ankle numbness. Testing demonstrated a lateral compartment pressure of 134 mm Hg. The patient underwent emergent anterior and lateral compartment release. The peroneus longus and brevis were dusky, but regained perfusion. The patient's serum creatine kinase (CK) spiked initially because of reperfusion injury but ultimately normalized.

CONCLUSION

Isolated nontraumatic lateral compartment syndrome is extremely rare. Compartment release in a timely fashion restores perfusion to the compartment; however, CK is released and needs to be diluted to prevent renal injury.

Address: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut.; School of Medicine University of St. Andrews, N Haugh, United Kingdom.; Connecticut Children's Sports Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut.; Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts.

DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.25.00121

MeSH Terms: Humans, Compartment Syndromes, Adolescent, Male, Athletic Injuries, Ankle Injuries, Creatine Kinase