Compartment syndrome of the buttock following a total hip arthroplasty

An elevation of the interstitial pressure in a closed osseofascial compartment results in compartment syndrome. This may be caused by a decrease in compartment volume or an increase in compartment contents. The gluteal compartment syndrome is rare. Because the gluteal region has a large volume, this compartment requires a massive increase in content to cause a compartment syndrome. Also, this compartment blends anatomically with the muscles of the thigh, allowing extravasation of blood outside the compartmental envelope. This case report is of a patient whose medial circumflex femoral artery was severed during a total hip arthroplasty through a posterior approach leading to compartment syndrome of the buttock. Although this clinical presentation has not been described as compartment syndrome, one similar presentation was described in the literature.