Sports medicine stats: Chronic exertional compartment syndrome in young athletes
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is commonly seen in running athletes, causing lower leg pain, weakness, or neurologic symptoms. A recent study looked at patients 18 years and younger who were treated surgically for CECS. The primary sport most commonly reported was running (25%), followed by soccer (23%), or field hockey (12%), and 50% of patients were multi-sport athletes. 79.5% of patients returned to sports after surgery. Recurrence was found in 18.8% of patients, more commonly in patients undergoing anterior and lateral release only. Legs with only anterior and/or lateral compartment released had 3.4 times the odds of reoperation compared with legs that had all 4 compartments released. Twenty-eight of 250 legs (11.2%) had wound issues that resolved with nonoperative management. No wounds required repeat surgical management.
Source: American Journal of Sports Medicine, published online June 30, 2016
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surgically for CECS. The primary sport most commonly reported was running (25%), followed by soccer (23%), or field hockey (12%), and 50% of patients were multi-sport athletes. 79.5% of patients returned to sports after surgery. Recurrence was found in 18.8% of patients, more commonly in patients undergoing anterior and lateral release only. Legs with only anterior and/or lateral compartment released had 3.4 times the odds of reoperation compared with legs that had all 4 compartments released. Twenty-eight of 250 legs (11.2%) had wound issues that resolved with nonoperative management. No wounds required repeat surgical management.