Acute Anterior Thigh Compartment Syndrome in a Young Mixed Martial Arts Fighter

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) of the thigh is an uncommon injury, and diagnosis of such cases can be easily delayed or even missed due to the rare nature of this condition.  We present a case of ACS of the thigh in a young, healthy mixed martial arts (MMA) semi-professional athlete with no history of previous medical illnesses and normal coagulation.  This MMA fighter sustained a direct blow to the anterolateral aspect of his left thigh with a strong kick during a sparring match with his opponent.  After early surgical fasciotomy, this athlete returned to his pre-injury state and athletic performance within six to eight months postoperatively. Our literature review asserts that young athletic males with high muscle mass, engaging in contact sports, are at a higher risk of developing ACS of the thigh.