Management of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Foot: A Report of 3 Cases.

BACKGROUND

Arch pain in athletes is a common complaint with many causes. One uncommon cause of arch pain related to exercise that is often overlooked is chronic exertional compartment syndrome. This diagnosis should be considered in athletes who presents with exercise-induced foot pain. Recognition of this problem is paramount because it can significantly affect an athlete's ability to pursue further sports activities.

METHODS

Three case studies are presented that underscore the importance of a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Unique historical information and findings on focused physical examination after exercise strongly suggest the diagnosis.

RESULTS

Intracompartment pressure measurements before and after exercise are confirmatory. Because nonsurgical care is typically palliative, surgery involving fasciotomy to decompress involved compartments can be curative and is described in this article.

CONCLUSIONS

These three cases with long-term follow-up were randomly chosen and are representative of the authors' combined experience with chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the foot.