Fasciotomy of the posterior femoral muscle compartment in athletes.

Over a period of 13 years fasciotomy was performed on 46 athletes with chronic pain located at the posterior femoral muscle compartment. The patients could be divided, according to the etiology, in two groups: exertion (26 patients) and trauma (20 patients). In the first group the symptoms appeared without any sudden trauma and most of the athletes competed in endurance sports (e.g. 16 long distance runners). In the second group there was a history of hamstring muscle rupture or recurrent injuries. The symptoms were dull pain, stiffness, cramps and weakness of the posterior thigh during and after training. Conservative treatment methods did not help to eliminate the symptoms during a long preoperative follow-up period. Posterior fasciotomy (minimum 20 cm) to the thigh was performed through one or two incisions. In four patients a simultaneous liberation, division or suturation of the muscle scar was done. The patients were followed up for 19 months and the results of the fasciotomy were good or excellent in 39 cases. Pain at the posterior thigh muscle compartment may sometimes become chronic and hamper the training of athletes. Fasciotomy seems to be an effective method to help these patients return to their previous level of sports.