Diagnosing Compartment Syndrome in the Lower Leg: Testing & Procedures

Compartment syndrome of the lower legs, or chronic exertional compartment syndrome, is a condition that causes pain in the lower leg muscles during exercise. Several tests are used to diagnose compartment syndrome.

X-rays

• According to the Mayo Clinic, x-rays taken of the legs can identify bone abnormalities that may contribute to compartment syndrome.

CT Scan

• Computerized tomography scans, or CT scans, may obtain images of the inner structure of the legs that show more detail than an x-ray.

Ultrasound

• Ultrasound, or Doppler ultrasound testing, can show sharp images of muscles and other parts of the legs affected by compartment syndrome.

MRI

• Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, provides images of a patients leg that show details that other imaging tests may not identify.

Measuring Compartment Pressure

• Compartment pressure testing measures pressure inside a patient̵7;s muscle compartments. This test is invasive and requires the insertion of needles into an affected muscle compartment.