Syndrome des loges

Abstract

The compartmental syndrome is characterized by an excessive increase in intramuscular pressure; it induces a neuromuscular suffering of which the severity varies greatly. Depending on its severity and aetiology, two clinical features are identified: first, an acute syndrome which represents a surgical emergency and which, in case of delayed diagnosis, leads to severe outcome and medicolegal consequences; second, a chronic syndrome — more recently described — which mainly affects the leg but other compartments as well. Too many young athletic individuals are still unfitted for sport practice when functional impairment is underestimated. Although frequently unknown, this type of chronic compartment syndrome is far from being unusual, even if epidemiological data are rather rare. The raising interest in this syndrome is connected with improved accuracy of diagnosis by intramuscular pressure measurement, and with better targeted surgical guidelines. In order to standardize its designation, international guidelines recommend to use the term “compartment syndrome” for such excessive increase of intramuscular pressure; this term includes a wide array of callings which lead to confusion and ambiguity.