• compartment syndrome
• fasciotomy
• saphenous nerve

A case is reported of chronic exertional compartment syndrome treated by fasciotomy. The decompression procedure was complicated by injury to the saphenous nerve. The importance of accurate placement of the posteromedial incision line to avoid saphenous nerve injury is highlighted.

Compartment syndrome refers to muscle ischaemia following small vessel occlusion resulting from an increase in local tissue pressure within a closed fascial compartment (fig 1). The condition may be acute (usually secondary to trauma) or less commonly chronic, secondary to exertion. The definitive treatment is surgical decompression of the compartment by fasciotomy. We describe a case of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) treated by fasciotomy. The decompression procedure was complicated by injury to the saphenous nerve.