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A Rare Case of Gluteal Compartment Syndrome and Rhabdomyolysis After Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Gluteal compartment syndrome (GCS) is a rare but serious condition involving high intra-compartmental pressures that can result in rhabdomyolysis with tissue ischemia and necrosis. We present the case of a 38-year-old male with class III obesity who was positioned in lateral decubitus for a 4-h long robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy, completed in standard transperitoneal fashion, for a 3-cm renal mass later diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma, chromophobe type. Postoperatively, patient demonstrated clinical picture consistent with GCS, including pain with passive motion, weakness, tea-colored urine, and elevated creatine kinase (CK). He was managed expeditiously with emergent gluteal fasciotomy. Postoperatively, his CK and pain improved and he was discharged on postoperative day 5. At 1-year follow-up, he has normal renal function, no evidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) recurrence, and normal neurologic and muscle function. His case demonstrates the need for a high index of suspicion for musculoskeletal complications when operating on severely obese patients.

Source: World Journal of Nephrology and Urology

DOI: 10.14740/wjnu1007

Authors: Alyssa Lombardo, Daniel Evans, Hannah Harris, Daniel Li, Julie Bishop, Eric A. Singer

Institutions: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: Muscle and Compartmental Disorders

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: National Cancer Institute