[Late damage caused by an undetected compartment syndrome. Forensic evaluation].

A brief account is given of the aetiology and pathophysiology of the compartmental syndrome. Without decompression, acute compartmental syndrome causes irreversible muscle necrosis after six hours. Immediate diagnosis and therapeutic action are, therefore, imperative. Chronic courses are rare and are, probably, not unambiguously identifiable. Compartmental syndrome of the anterior tibial zone, when misinterpreted and taken for a muscular hernia, may lead to the development of acute compartmental syndrome with all its complications, once the fascia has been closed. Surgical opinion is discussed on the basis of the above case history.