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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Compartmentsyndrome Overview

Introduction

Overview

Compartment syndrome is an acute medical problem following injury or surgery in which increased pressure (usually caused by inflammation) within a confined space (fascial compartment) in the body impairs blood supply, leading to nerve damage and muscle death without prompt treatment.

Because the connective tissue that defines the compartment does not stretch, a small amount of bleeding into the compartment, or swelling of the muscles within the compartment can cause the pressure to rise greatly. Common causes of compartment syndrome include tibial or forearm fractures, ischemic-reperfusion following injury, hemorrhage, vascular puncture, intravenous drug injection, casts, prolonged limb compression, crush injuries and burns. When compartment syndrome is caused by repetitive heavy use of the muscles, as in a runner, it is known as chronic compartment syndrome (CCS). This is usually not an emergency, but the loss of circulation can cause temporary or permanent damage to nearby nerves and muscle. Revascularization after acute arterial injury or obstruction can also result in ACS; hence in most of cases patients need fasciotomy after revascularization [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].

References 

  1. ↑ Mars M, Hadley GP (July 1998). “Raised intracompartmental pressure and compartment syndromes”. Injury. 29 (6): 403–11. PMID 9813693.
  2. ↑ Frink M, Hildebrand F, Krettek C, Brand J, Hankemeier S (April 2010). “Compartment syndrome of the lower leg and foot”. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 468 (4): 940–50. doi:10.1007/s11999-009-0891-x. PMC 2835588. PMID 19472025.
  3. ↑ McDonald S, Bearcroft P (June 2010). “Compartment syndromes”. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 14 (2): 236–44. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1253164. PMID 20486031.
  4. ↑ Johnston-Walker E, Hardcastle J (2011). “Neurovascular assessment in the critically ill patient”. Nurs Crit Care. 16 (4): 170–7. doi:10.1111/j.1478-5153.2011.00431.x. PMID 21651657.
  5. ↑ Suzuki T, Moirmura N, Kawai K, Sugiyama M (January 2005). “Arterial injury associated with acute compartment syndrome of the thigh following blunt trauma”. Injury. 36 (1): 151–9. doi:10.1016/j.injury.2004.03.022. PMID 15589934.
  6. ↑ Alexander W, Low N, Pratt G (January 2018). “Acute lumbar paraspinal compartment syndrome: a systematic review”. ANZ J Surg. doi:10.1111/ans.14342. PMID 29316189.
  7. ↑ Thati S, Carlson C, Maskill JD, Anderson JG, Bohay DR (June 2008). “Tibial compartment syndrome and the cavovarus foot”. Foot Ankle Clin. 13 (2): 275–305, vii. doi:10.1016/j.fcl.2008.02.001. PMID 18457774.
  8. ↑ Fulkerson E, Razi A, Tejwani N (February 2003). “Review: acute compartment syndrome of the foot”. Foot Ankle Int. 24 (2): 180–7. doi:10.1177/107110070302400214. PMID 12627629.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mohammadmain Rezazadehsaatlou[2] ;