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Diagnostic Testing for Compartment Syndrome in the Lower Leg

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.

  1. 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 patient’s muscle compartments. This test is invasive and requires the insertion of needles into an affected muscle compartment.

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