Endoscopic Four Compartment Decompression for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is a rare condition causing forearm pain and paraesthesia with prolonged exercise of the forearm. Elevation of the compartment pressure during protracted exercise is sufficient in these patients to alter perfusion in the compartments resulting in ischaemia which produces the symptoms. The definitive treatment is forearm fasciotomy and this can be performed using open or endoscopic techniques. The benefits of endoscopic fasciotomy are smaller more cosmetic scars and a more rapid return of forearm function. This chapter presents a new technique for endoscopic 4-compartment fasciotomy for chronic exertional compartment syndrome.