Isolated Lateral Calf Compartment Syndrome from a Sports Injury: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Author Department
Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine
Document Type
Article, Peer-reviewed
Publication Date
1-2026
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.
Keywords: adolescent; isolated lateral compartment syndrome; male; peroneus longus tear.
Recommended Citation
Block A, Liu KY, Fitzsimmons K, Ramsaroop V, Brown MJ. Isolated Lateral Calf Compartment Syndrome from a Sports Injury: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. JBJS Case Connect. 2026 Jan 8;16(1). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.25.00121.
PMID
41505509