Acute compartment syndrome secondary to diabetic muscle infarction: case report and literature review

Eur J Emerg Med. 2006 Apr;13(2):113-6. doi: 10.1097/01.mej.0000192048.04729.45.

Abstract

Acute compartment syndrome has a multitude of aetiologies. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is often delayed, resulting in permanent functional loss. Although spontaneous muscle infarction is an uncommon, yet well-recognized complication of diabetes mellitus, subsequent development of compartment syndrome appears to be rare, with only five case reports identified in the literature. This condition has not been reported in the emergency medicine literature. We report a case of a diabetic gentleman who presented with lower limb pain significantly out of proportion to any obvious injury and had a subsequent diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome. Despite fasciotomies, he had a persistent foot drop. Nontraumatic acute compartment syndrome secondary to diabetic muscle infarction should be considered in any diabetic patient presenting with pain out of proportion to sustained injury.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Compartment Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Compartment Syndromes / etiology*
  • Compartment Syndromes / surgery
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications*
  • Humans
  • Infarction / complications*
  • Infarction / diagnosis
  • Infarction / surgery
  • Leg
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / blood supply*