Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Increased tissue pressure within a fascia! compartment may be the result from any increase in volume within its contents, or any decrease in size of the fascia! covering or its distensibility. This may lead to symptoms of leg tightness, pain, or numbness brought about by exercise. There are multiple differential diagnoses of exercise induced leg pain. The proper diagnoses of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is made by a careful history and by exclusion of other maladies and confirmed by compartment syndrome testing, as detailed in this text. Surgical fasciotomies for the anterior, lateral, superficial, and deep posterior compartments are described in detail along with ancillary procedures for chronic shin splints that should allow the athlete to return to competitive activity.