Acute compartment syndrome secondary to disruption of the perforating branch of the peroneal artery following an acute inversion injury to the ankle

INTRODUCTION Although ankle sprain by inversion is common in daily practice, acute compartment syndrome following ankle inversion injury is unusual. Only a few cases of this uncommon entity have been reported.

PRESENTATION OF CASE This report describes a case of acute compartment syndrome following severe inversion of an ankle injury secondary to disruption of the perforating branch of the peroneal artery 3 h after the trauma. Although emergent fasciotomy was performed, residual weakness of ankle dorsiflexion still presented six months after surgery.

DISCUSSION To the best of our knowledge, this case is the third in literature on an acute compartment syndrome following severe inversion ankle injury secondary to disruption of the perforating branch of the peroneal artery.

CONCLUSION This report underscores the importance of considering compartment syndrome when individual has an inversion ankle injury, even when no fracture exists.