Compartment Syndrome Spreads Among Oregon Football Team Players

Ten Oregon high school football players were hospitalized with compartment syndrome on Sunday, reports said. (Photos.com)

Ten Oregon high school football players were hospitalized on Sunday and doctors say they all suffered from rhabdomyolysis, also known as “compartment syndrome,” according to reports.

The high school football players were at a football “immersion camp,” when they started experiencing symptoms of the rare muscle and soft-tissue condition.

Their symptoms included soreness and swelling in the triceps. If not addressed quickly, the problem can lead to long-term damage.

"As long as you [notice] it early, the consequences are fairly minor," said Darin Friess, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Oregon Health and Science University, according to The Oregonian newspaper. However muscles and nerves cannot recover if blood flow is not restored within a few hours.

Those afflicted were taken to Willamette Valley Medical Center and three had to undergo surgery.

Doctors said that high heat, dehydration, and extensive exercise could be the main reason the camp attendees contracted the malady.

Dr. Craig Winkler told the Oregonian in Portland that doctors are running blood tests for creatine, a loosely regulated bodybuilding supplement suspected to cause an increase in sports injuries.

“We're looking to see if there's some inciting event or some toxins that led to this massive injury,” he told the paper.

Initially, 12 players were hospitalized, but two were released on Saturday.