Effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical management strategies in patients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the anterior compartment of the leg: a systematic review protocol.

[OBJECTIVE] The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical management versus non-surgical management on pain, range of motion, intracompartmental pressure values, patient satisfaction, recurrence of symptoms, return to activity, function, strength, and sensation in patients diagnosed with chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the anterior compartment of the leg.

[INTRODUCTION] Chronic exertional compartment syndrome is the most prevalent cause of exercise-induced leg pain in athletes. Current evidence suggests that the best methods for management include activity modification or cessation, injection of botulinum toxin into the affected compartment, or surgical intervention. Due to the limited number and quality of studies available, the evidence needs to be synthesized to pool findings from current research and to identify gaps in the literature.

[INCLUSION CRITERIA] This review will consider studies that include people with chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the anterior compartment of the leg diagnosed through a combination of elevated intracompartmental pressure values and patient history. Studies that include patient-reported outcome measures will be included.

[METHODS] MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, MasterFILE Premier, CINAHL Complete, ProQuest Health and Medical Complete, Scopus, and Science Direct will be searched from 1956 to date. Gray literature databases will also be searched. Two reviewers will independently retrieve and screen full-text studies, critically appraise included studies, and extract data. Meta-analyses will be performed where possible.

[SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER] PROSPERO CRD42020189661.