Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Forearm in Motocross Riders

JBJS Reviews ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e3-e3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Humpherys ◽  
Zachary Lum ◽  
Jondy Cohen
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 311-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akiko Tominaga ◽  
Kozo Shimada ◽  
Ko Temporin ◽  
Ryosuke Noguchi

Background: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a rare condition, which generally occurs in athletes. Few tools are available for diagnosis and treatment evaluation. We examined pre- and post- exertional forearm magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after fasciotomy since 2013. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pre- and post-exertional MRI before and after fasciotomy. Methods: We treated 8 forearms of 5 patients diagnosed with CECS of the forearms since 2013, including 6 forearms of 3 motocross racers, 1 forearm of 1 baseball pitcher, 1 forearm of 1 manual laborer with a history of muscle contusion. We obtained pre- and post-exertional MRI before and after fasciotomy in all cases. Pre-exertional MRI was obtained when the patient was at rest without any symptom. Post-exertional MRI was obtained after the patients repeated “grip and release” using a hand gripper with maximum effort for approximately 10 minutes until symptoms occurred. We compared MRI findings before and after fasciotomy and evaluated the correlation with clinical outcome. Results: Symptoms disappeared completely in all 3 motocross racers after fasciotomy. MRI at rest showed no abnormal high signals in all cases both before and after fasciotomy. On post-exertional MRI, T2 high area presented mainly in flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and brachioradialis (BR) and disappeared completely after surgery. Symptoms persisted in the pitcher and the laborer after fasciotomy. T2 high area presented mainly in FDP on post-exertional MRI before fasciotomy and remained on post-exertional MRI after fasciotomy in these two patients. These intensity changes correlated strongly with their symptoms. Conclusions: We performed pre- and post-exertional MRI before and after fasciotomy. The intensity change in T2-weighted images on post-exertional MRI correlated strongly with their symptoms. Post-exertional MRI is useful for diagnosis and treatment evaluation in CECS.


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (01) ◽  
pp. 58-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan de Bruijn ◽  
Aniek van Zantvoort ◽  
David van Klaveren ◽  
Michiel Winkes ◽  
Marike van der Cruijsen-Raaijmakers ◽  
...  

AbstractKnowledge about lower leg chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is largely obtained from highly selected populations. Patient characteristics may therefore not be appropriate for the general population. Our purpose was to describe a heterogeneous population of individuals suspected of lower leg CECS and to identify predictors of CECS. Charts of individuals who were analyzed for exercise-induced lower leg pain in a referral center between 2001 and 2013 were retrospectively studied. Patients were included if history and physical examination were suggestive of CECS and if they had undergone a dynamic intracompartmental pressure measurement. Six hundred ninety-eight of 1411 individuals were diagnosed with CECS in one or more of three lower leg muscle compartments (anterior tibial, deep flexor, lateral). Prevalence of CECS peaked around the age of 20–25 years and decreased thereafter, although a plateau around 50 years was found. Age, gender, bilateral symptoms, previous lower leg pathology, sports (running and skating) and tender muscle compartments were identified as independent predictors of lower leg CECS. The proposed predictive model has moderate discriminative ability (AUC 0.66) and good calibration over the complete range of predicted probabilities. The predictive model, displayed as a nomogram, may aid in selecting individuals requiring an invasive dynamic intracompartmental muscle pressure measurement.


Hand ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. NP58-NP61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Miller ◽  
Anna L. Cobb ◽  
Tyson K. Cobb

Background: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the forearm is traditionally treated with open compartment release requiring large incisions that can result in less than optimal esthetic results. The purpose of this study is to describe a case report of 2 professional motocross patients with forearm CECS treated endoscopically using a minimally invasive technique. Methods: Two professional motocross racers presented with a history of chronic proximal volar forearm pain when motocross riding. Other symptoms included paresthesia and weakness, which, at times, led to an inability to continue riding. Both failed conservative management. Compartment pressure measurements were performed before and after provocative exercises to confirm diagnosis of CECS. Release of both the volar and dorsal compartments was performed endoscopically through a single incision. Results: Symptoms resolved after surgery. The first patient resumed riding at 1 week, competing at 3 weeks, and continues to ride competitively without symptoms at 3 years postoperative. The second patient began riding at 1 week and won second place in the National Supercross finals 5 weeks after simultaneous bilateral release. Conclusions: This technique is simple and effective. The cannula used protects the superficial nerves while allowing release through a small, cosmetically pleasing incision.


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