Tissue Pressure Studies
Acute compartment syndrome is an emergency. It can cause serious injury to an extremity. To diagnose it, do tissue pressure studies.
It can also develop after a relatively minor injury and can be associated fractures, a badly bruised muscle, crush injuries, constricting bandages, and bites with swelling.
The two most common sites for compartment syndrome are the forearm and leg. Compartment syndrome can lead to Volkmann’s contracture.
Key clinical features are:
– Severe pain out of proportion to the injury
– Aggravated by passive stretch – Increased pain on passive stretch.
– Paresthesias in the distribution of nerves running through the affected compartments.
The 7 P’s of Compartment Syndrome
Pain: Pain out of proportion to physical findings is usually the first symptom. This pain is increased with passive stretch.
Paresthesia: Paresthesias in the distribution of nerves running through the affected compartments.
Pallor
Poikilothermia: cold to the touch
Paresis / Paralysis: late sign
Pulselessness: usually a late and ominous sign
Pressure: tense, rigid extremity
Most patients with compartment syndrome don’t present