[Differential diagnosis of the "fat leg"--a case report]

This is a report about a patient, who came to our hospital because of a painful thickening of her left calf. She was treated with Heparin 48,000 IU/24 hours. A crural vein thrombosis was suspected. Instead of improvement of the symptoms the diameter of the leg grew until the state of a complete Compartment-syndrome. After exact inspection (Sonography, Computertomogramm) we found a hematom of the calf, caused by a rupture of the tibial part of the gastrocnemius muscle. Fasciotomies and evacuation of the blood brought a restitutio ad integrum. Diagnostic methods and faults are discussed.