While most often occurring in the forearm and lower leg, compartment syndrome can rarely occur in other parts of the body that have muscles contained in compartments, including the hands and feet.Ĭompartment syndrome may occur acutely due to swelling that arises from injury, or it may be chronic because of exertion such as exercise. If left untreated, muscles and nerves fail and may eventually die. The fibrous tissue is very inflexible and cannot stretch to accommodate the generalized swelling. Muscles in the forearm, lower leg and other body areas are surrounded by fibrous bands of tissues. Chronic compartment syndrome usually requires no treatment or surgery.Ĭompartment syndrome is a condition that occurs when injury causes generalized painful swelling and increased pressure within a compartment to the point that blood cannot supply the muscles and nerves with oxygen and nutrients.Prevention efforts include ice and elevation of the affected extremity.Complications may include muscle loss, amputation, infection, nerve damage, and kidney failure.The muscle compartment is cut open to allow muscle tissue to swell, decrease pressure and restore blood flow. Surgery (fasciotomy) is the only treatment for acute compartment syndrome.Symptoms include severe pain, numbness, and decreased range of motion.This pressure increase causes nerve damage due to decreased blood supply.

It is most often due to injury, such as fracture, that causes bleeding in a muscle, which then causes increased pressure in the muscle. Compartment syndrome describes increased pressure within a muscle compartment of the arm or leg.Learn more about this syndrome including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and more. Patients who underwent delayed fasciotomies had twice the rate of major amputation and a threefold higher mortality.Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that occurs when there’s a large amount of pressure inside a muscle compartment. The most commonly unopened compartment was the anterior compartment of the lower leg. The most common revision procedures were extension of fascial incisions and opening new compartments. These patients also received more blood products at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.įasciotomy revision was associated with a fourfold increase in mortality. Patients who underwent revisions or delayed fasciotomies had higher Injury Severity Score and larger burns as well as lower systolic blood pressure, acidosis, and more pressor use during air evacuation. 5%) than patients who received their fasciotomies in the combat theater (p < 0.01). Patients who underwent fasciotomy after evacuation had higher rates of muscle excision (25% vs. The anterior and deep compartments of the lower leg were the most commonly unopened. 6%, p < 0.01) than those who did not receive a revision. Patients who underwent a fasciotomy revision had higher rates of muscle excision (35% vs. Most were to the lower leg (49%) and forearm (23%). Outcomes were rates of muscle excision, major amputation, and mortality.Ī total of 336 patients underwent 643 fasciotomies. We investigated the impact of fasciotomy revision and delayed compartment release on combat casualties after air evacuation.Ī retrospective review was performed of combat casualties who underwent fasciotomies in Iraq, Afghanistan, or at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center between Januand August 31, 2006. Rapid air evacuation may delay treatment of patients with evolving extremity compartment syndrome. Combat explosions severely damage tissue and distort normal anatomy making fasciotomies challenging.

Incomplete or delayed fasciotomies are associated with muscle necrosis and death in civilian trauma.

Compartments of leg fasciotomy