Conservative treatment for lumbar compartment syndrome shows efficacy over 2-year follow-up: a case report and literature review.

Background: Since in all studies of conservative treatment of lumbar compartment syndrome the follow-up duration was less than 6 months, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions.

Purpose: To report a patient with lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome who was treated conservatively over a follow-up period of 2 years.

Study Design: This is a case report of a 23-year-old male college student with lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome who was treated conservatively.

Methods: We report a case of a 23-year-old male college student with lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome who was treated conservatively. We repeatedly checked his physical examination, laboratory tests, lumbar compartment pressures, and magnetic resonance imaging, and surgical teams were readily prepared to operate should the patient's condition worsen. To prevent complications of rhabdomyolysis, hydration and alkalization were performed. We followed him up to 2 years after discharge.

Result: Although the temporal changes on MRI up to the 1-year point, the patient continued to have no symptoms.

Conclusions: Conservative therapy can be recommended if rhabdomyolysis is under control.