Delayed Presentation of Acute Compartment Syndrome After Isolated Closed Fibular Shaft Fracture: A Case Report

Post-traumatic compartment syndrome in the lower extremity has been commonly associated with fractures of the tibia. Only in rare cases, this critical condition might be related to isolated fibular fractures. We present a rare case of delayed onset of acute compartment syndrome after a solitary fracture of the fibula. A 40-year-old man with a history of coagulation disorders due to hepatic cirrhosis was admitted to a neighboring hospital after a car accident with left-sided fractures to ribs 9 and 10 and a transverse fracture in the mid-shaft of the left fibula. He was discharged from the hospital five days later with a posterior long leg splint and anticoagulant therapy. However, three days after discharge, he was seen in the emergency department of our hospital with severe pain and extensive swelling in the left leg. Weak posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulse in the right foot were detected. Moreover, sensory disturbances were found in the tibia and foot. Passive hallux dorsiflexion and plantar flexion were causing acute intense pain. A triplex ultrasound was negative for deep vein thrombosis. Apart from the clinical findings, the diagnosis of compartment syndrome was confirmed after evaluating intracompartment pressure measurements. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room for four-compartment fasciotomies. A large intramuscular hematoma was evacuated. Skin closure was accomplished in two stages within two weeks. Six weeks postoperatively, there was no sign of compartment syndrome sequelae and the patient was free of symptoms without any neurovascular deficiency in the operated limb and walked without crutches. Ten weeks later, he returned to his pre-injury daily activities. Although the majority of compartment syndrome cases are reported after high-energy trauma, patients with both coagulation disturbances and anticoagulation treatment are at higher risk of developing compartment syndrome secondary to simple fracture patterns.