What is Chronic exertional compartment syndrome?

It is an intense muscle or nerve pain caused by physical activity that can sometimes produce disabling processes in the upper and lower extremities muscles, being more common in young athletes who perform high-impact sports and excessive physical effort.

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is due to increased pressure in a muscle compartment: if the pressure is too high, blood flow will be impeded, which can cause permanent injury to the muscles and nerves.

The most common causes are:

Bone fractures.
Muscle with various bruises.
Severe sprain.
Trauma.

Tight bandage, cast, or tourniquet that prevents blood circulation.

Compartment syndrome usually occurs most regularly in the lower leg and forearm, although it can also occur in the hands, thighs, feet, and upper arm.

Signs and symptoms Chronic exertional compartment syndrome

Burning.
Cramps.
Intense pain that does not stop with painkillers.
Lack of strength in the affected limb.
Numbness or tingling of the affected limb.
Inflammation.
Pale skin.

The greatest risk of chronic exertional compartment syndrome, linked to the pain, weakness, and numbness it causes, is the lack of continuity in sports practice or activity.

Diagnosis and treatment Chronic exertional compartment syndrome

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request some tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as:

Near-infrared spectroscopy.
Compartment pressure measurement.
MRI.

Treatment focuses on preventing permanent damage, through:

Painkillers.
Rest from physical or sports activity.
Botulinum toxin injections.
Physical therapy.
Surgery called fasciotomy, which consists of removing the rigid tissue that covers each muscle compartment of the tissue to relieve pressure.

At the Orthopedics and Traumatology Center, we seek to improve the lives of patients restricted or immobilized by musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. We specialize in the care of the locomotor system by integrating the latest medical, biological, and technological advances in strict adherence to the highest international standards of patient care.

Related centers and departments

Orthopedics and Traumatology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

traumatologiamadrid.es
wnyurology.com
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
middlesexhealth.org
elsevier.com
mayoclinic.org
medigraphic.com
Zenteno-Chávez B. Manejo del síndrome compartimental crónico de la pierna en atletas. Presentación de dos casos y revisión de la literatura. Acta Ortop Mex. 2018 Ene-Feb;32(1):41-43.
Arroyo LAP, Solano MH, Rojas MVM. Síndrome Compartimental, generalidades, consenso diagnóstico y técnica quirúrgica. Rev Clin Esc Med. 2018;8(2):11-24.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is Chronic exertional compartment syndrome?

Signs and symptoms Chronic exertional compartment syndrome

Diagnosis and treatment Chronic exertional compartment syndrome

Related centers and departments

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Chronic exertional compartment syndrome