Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome of the Forearm: Compartment-specific Endoscopic Fasciotomy

Abstract

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) of the forearm is a rare but increasingly well-recognized condition that affects athletes and labor workers performing repetitive isometric loading of forearm musculature. There is no current consensus on surgical management for CECS of the forearm, and there is a paucity of literature to support a single technique. We describe the surgical management of CECS of the forearm with endoscopic forearm fasciotomy. This technique facilitates compartment-specific fasciotomy in patients diagnosed with CECS based on pre-operative intracompartmental pressure measurements while minimizing risks associated with wide-open and mini-open fasciotomy techniques. We demonstrate a step-by-step surgical approach for the treatment of this condition and provide an accompanying video demonstrating this surgical technique on a 20-year-old male collegiate rower with CECS of the bilateral forearms.