Acute peroneal compartmental syndrome: report of a case

Among the compartmental syndromes the necrosis of peroneal muscles is unusual. We report a case in which the swelling of peroneal muscle causes a compression of the common peroneal nerve below the peroneal head. A disturbance of both the motility and sensibility of the deep and superficial peroneal nerve is present with different pathogenesis. In fact, EMG suggested a muscular damage of the peroneal compartment and a denervation of the pretibial muscle. Interfascicular neurolysis along the peroneal nerve was performed to decompress the common and the deep peroneal nerve. A recovery in the territory of the tibialis anterior deep peroneal nerve confirmed the different mechanisms of paralysis.