Compartment syndrome of the thigh in an infant: a case report

Compartment syndrome of the thigh in children is rare. We report a case of compartment syndrome of the thigh in an infant with a femur fracture resulting from suspected nonaccidental trauma. The delayed presentation of this injury may have been contributory to the development of compartment syndrome. The subtle physical findings in this case underscore the need for a high index of suspicion in making the diagnosis of compartment syndrome. The complete recovery of muscle function, even in the presence of significant tissue damage, is noteworthy and suggests that infants have a greater physiologic ability to recover in comparison with adults.