Spontaneous tibial compartment syndrome in Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

We present a case of a patient with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) who spontaneously developed severe bilateral anterior tibial compartment syndromes which required extensive surgical treatment. While infarction of skeletal muscle in Type 1 DM remains rare and usually affects the larger compartments of the thigh, this diagnosis must be entertained in any patient presenting with acute leg pain. If a patient displays any features of acute compartment syndrome, prompt fasciotomy must be undertaken.