Chronic compartmental syndrome of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis muscles: report of a case treated with fasciotomy.

A 32-year-old man with a chronic compartmental syndrome of the muscle bellies of the abductor pollicis longus and the extensor pollicis brevis muscles was successfully treated by fasciotomy of the muscle sheath. It is pointed out that this condition was primarily due to hypertrophy of the muscles combined with overuse edema. This condition should be differentiated from De Quervain's disease.