What is compartment syndrome? Vikings LB Jordan Hicks developed condition following leg injury.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jordan Hicks was hospitalized Sunday with a condition known as compartment syndrome following an injury.
Hicks, 31, had been a ball handler all season until suffering a shin injury in the first quarter of a win against the New Orleans Saints.
Hicks tried to make a comeback late in the game, but was eventually sidelined with an injury.
Coach Kevin O’Connell said after Monday’s game that the team’s decision was made because the swelling in his leg continued to worsen.

“We decided to evaluate Jordan at a local hospital where he would need some type of procedure to relieve pressure and alleviate complications from a direct injury to his leg,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell later confirmed that Hicks suffered from compartment syndrome.

What is compartment syndrome?
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, compartment syndrome is “a serious condition that occurs when the pressure on the muscles reaches dangerous levels.”

This occurs when there is swelling or bleeding in the area where the muscles, nerves and blood vessels of the arms and legs join. The AAOS reports that the pressure caused by this condition can reduce blood flow, preventing oxygen and other nutrients from reaching certain nerve and muscle cells.
There are two types of the condition: acute compartment syndrome and chronic (experimental) compartment syndrome.
The first usually occurs after a serious injury, such as a car accident or a broken bone.
The latter is caused by exercise, especially during exercise that involves repetitive movements, such as running.

The Vikings did not specify what type of Hicks syndrome they suffered from, but the AAOS says ER syndrome is a “medical emergency” and requires surgery.
For chronic conditions, surgery is usually an option only when non-surgical treatments have failed.

O’Connell confirmed that Hicks underwent “some procedures” to remove the complications.
AAOS surgery usually involves a doctor making an incision and removing the skin and fascia covering the area, the AAOS says.
This procedure is called a fasciotomy.
When is Hicks expected back?

It’s unclear, but O’Connell said the veteran quarterback will miss at least Sunday night’s game against the Denver Broncos. The team plays the Chicago Bears next Monday.

No specific timeline has been set for his return, but O’Connell said the urgent need for treatment could have prevented a bigger problem. He said Hicks was “doing very well” after the procedure.

Hicks was hospitalized Monday as a precaution.
He posted the photo on his old Twitter account, X, on Tuesday.
“I want to get back on the road with people as soon as possible,” he said, calling the operation “a huge success.”

Full recovery from compartment syndrome usually takes three to four months, depending on how quickly it heals, according to NYU Langone Health.
After Hicks’ injury, the Vikings decided to re-sign 31-year-old Anthony Barr. Barr was selected ninth overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by Minnesota and spent eight seasons with the team.
He made four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances during his time with the Vikings.