Summary:
Objectives: The study presents results of rare operations of the peripheral nerves compartment syndromes of the forearm and
distal leg, completed in our clinic during a 14-year period (1990–2004).
Subjects and Methods: We completed 25 procedures for 25 compartment syndromes in 25 patients. All patients sufferred
from unilateral compartment syndromes. The patients were operated for the first time in our clinic. None of them needed to be
re-operated. The clinical pictures of the compartment syndromes were classified (three degrees) according to the Dellon‘s intensity
classification: None of the patients sufferred from the Ist degree compression. The IInd degree occured in 4 patients (16%).
The IIIrd degree occured in 21 patients (84%). The surgical procedure‘s effectiveness was analyzed, taking into consideration
the degree of the compression, its duration and the symptoms duration.
Results: Excellent and good results were observed in all cases of the IInd degree compression and the symptoms duration up to
12 months. Worse results were recorded in the IIIrd degree compression cases, where excellent and good results were observed
in 19 cases (76%). In cases, where the symptoms lasted for over 12 months, no excellent or good results were recorded.
Conclusion: The decisive factor affecting the procedure’s outcome, is the degree of the compression and its duration. The
main factors improving the outcome of the procedure are the following: the patient’s age up to 30 years of age and the duration
of the symptoms up to 1 year, when the defect is not irreversible.
Key words:
rare compartment neuropathies – supinator syndrome – Guyon‘s canal syndrome– pronator syndrome – paresthesia
meralgia – tarsal canal syndrome – Morton‘s metatarsalgia – fibular canal syndrome
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