Ankle and foot

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome

Mechanism: On exertion the muscle swells in a compartment whose fascia can no longer yield, so pressure rises and perfusion falls. The anterior compartment is by far the most often affected.
Recognition: A tight, pressing sensation coming on after a predictable duration of exertion and easing within minutes of stopping. Sometimes with tingling or a drop foot on continued exertion.
Course: The distinguishing feature is predictability: the same distance, the same complaint, and no abnormality at all on examination at rest. Diagnosis is confirmed by intracompartmental pressure measurement.

Structures