Anterior compartment syndrome after achilles tendon repair: A rare case report

Abstract

We encountered a rare case of single anterior compartment syndrome (CS) in a 43-year-old male patient who underwent Achilles tendon repair (ATR). The ATR was completed without tourniquet use uneventfully, three days following an injury to the left Achilles tendon. Two days later, unexplainable pain in the left anterior lower leg and numbness of the ipsilateral dorsal foot developed, and the patient's condition gradually deteriorated. An isolated increase in pressure to over 190 mmHg was observed within the anterior compartment; therefore, we performed an emergency fasciotomy. However, the patient's left dorsal foot never regained complete sensation, and plantar flexion of his ankle and hallux remained impaired. In this case, the cause of CS was not clear. Few case reports have described CS following ATR. We understand from our experience the importance of being careful about CS even if we operate in posterior compartment only.