Acute Compartment Syndrome Questions & Answers

Updated: Apr 01, 2022
  • Author: Abraham T Rasul, Jr, MD, FAAPMR, FCCP; Chief Editor: Consuelo T Lorenzo, MD  more...
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Questions & Answers

Overview

What is acute compartment syndrome?

What is the cycle of events leading to acute compartment syndrome?

What are late manifestations of acute compartment syndrome?

What are the different types of acute compartment syndrome?

What is chronic compartment syndrome (CCS)?

What is the incidence of acute compartment syndrome?

Which bodily compartments are affected by acute compartment syndrome?

What is the definitive treatment for acute compartment syndrome?

What is the original description of acute compartment syndrome?

What are common causes of acute compartment syndrome?

What is an historical perspective on the understanding of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the use of the wick catheter in the management of acute compartment syndrome?

What are possible sites where acute compartment syndrome may develop?

What are the compartments of the lower leg susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

Which muscles in the anterior compartment are susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the borders of the anterior compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the borders of the lateral compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What is the anatomy of the superficial posterior compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the muscles within the deep posterior compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the borders of the deep posterior compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What is the anatomy of the tibialis posterior compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the 4 interconnected compartments of the forearm susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What is contained in the deep volar compartment susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

Which compartments of the forearm are most commonly affected by elevated pressure in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the anatomy of the wrist susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the compartments of the dorsal extensor tendons susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What are the compartments of the hand susceptible to acute compartment syndrome?

What is the pathophysiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What are the types of acute compartment syndrome?

How is local blood flow calculated in the pathophysiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What is required for normal myocyte metabolism in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of fluid in the pathophysiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of skeletal muscle in the pathogenesis of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the clinical closing pressure in acute compartment syndrome?

At what compartment pressure in acute compartment syndrome is surgical intervention needed?

What causes pressure-induced functional deficits in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the pathogenesis of acute compartment syndrome following vascular trauma?

How is muscle affected in acute compartment syndrome?

What causes acute compartment syndrome?

What are the causes of increased fluid content in acute compartment syndrome?

What are the sources of hemorrhage in acute compartment syndrome?

What are the most common etiologies of acute compartment syndrome?

How can lying on a limb cause acute compartment syndrome?

What are risk factors for acute compartment syndrome?

What are radiographic predictors of acute compartment syndrome, and what are the risk factors for acute compartment syndrome during the treatment of tibial shaft fractures?

Which causes nonfracture acute compartment syndrome in children?

What are the iatrogenic causes of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of chemotherapy drugs in the etiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of orthopedic fixation in the etiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the etiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of abdominal surgery in the etiology of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the most precipitating factor for acute compartment syndrome?

What is the incidence of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the prevalence of acute compartment syndrome?

Which factors affect the prognosis of acute compartment syndrome?

How does the timing of fasciotomy affect the prognosis of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the prognosis of acute compartment syndrome following fasciotomies in the lower leg?

What are the complications of late diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

What is Volkmann contracture in acute compartment syndrome?

What causes recurrence of acute compartment syndrome?

How does infection affect the prognosis of acute compartment syndrome?

Presentation

What are the signs and symptoms of acute compartment syndrome?

What is a reliable early test for acute compartment syndrome?

What is the importance of determining the mechanism of injury for acute compartment syndrome?

Which factor can significantly increase the risk of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the significance of vigorous exertion in the history of suspected acute compartment syndrome?

What is the common cause of acute compartment syndrome in the hand?

What are the signs and symptoms of acute compartment syndrome in the hand?

Which physical exam findings may indicate acute compartment syndrome?

How is pain characterized in acute compartment syndrome?

What are the traditional 5 P's of acute ischemia in a limb clinically unreliable for acute compartment syndrome?

What is the most important diagnostic finding in acute compartment syndrome?

What are signs of neural compromise in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the most consistent early finding in acute compartment syndrome?

DDX

What are the differential diagnoses for Acute Compartment Syndrome?

Workup

What is the role of lab testing in the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) measurement in the workup of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of serum chemistry studies in the evaluation of acute compartment syndrome?

How is acute compartment syndrome diagnosed?

What is the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of MRI and ultrasonography in the evaluation of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of angiography in the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine measurement in the evaluation of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of anion gap in the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

How is compartment pressure measured in the evaluation of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the diagnostic criterion standard for acute compartment syndrome?

How is compartment pressure measured in acute compartment syndrome when commercial devices are unavailable?

What supplies are needed to make a pressure transducer for the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

How is intracompartmental pressure measured using a pressure transducer?

What is the wick technique for the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

Which other less-common methods for compartment blood flow measurement in the diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome?

Treatment

What is the treatment of choice for acute compartment syndrome?

What is the treatment approach for developing acute compartment syndrome?

How is tibial fracture with acute compartment syndrome treated?

What is the role of antivenin in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

How can acute compartment syndrome be prevented?

What is the role of mannitol in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

What is efficacy of observation in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

How is ischemia treated in patients with acute compartment syndrome?

What are the treatment recommendations for treating renal failure in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of surgery in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

When is fasciotomy indicated in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

At what measured compartment pressure is fasciotomy usually performed for acute compartment syndrome?

Which patients with acute compartment syndrome should undergo fasciotomy?

What is the tolerance of tissue to prolonged ischemia in acute compartment syndrome vary?

How quickly is nerve tissue affected in acute compartment syndrome?

When does compartment pressure need to be relieved in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the prognosis of acute compartment syndrome following revascularization surgery?

What effect does compression treatment have on acute compartment syndrome of the hand?

When is fasciotomy contraindicated in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

When is severe infection likely to develop in acute compartment syndrome?

What factors increase the risk of infection and nonunion following fasciotomy for acute compartment syndrome?

What are the treatment options for vascular injury in acute compartment syndrome?

What is the prognosis of acute compartment syndrome following arthroscopy?

What is the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

How is hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) administered in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

What is the role of physical therapy in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

What is included in physical therapy for acute compartment syndrome?

What is included in the physical therapy of athletes with acute compartment syndrome?

When should an occupational therapy consultation be considered in the management of acute compartment syndrome?

What are the complications of acute compartment syndrome?

Medications

Which medications are used in the treatment of acute compartment syndrome?

Which medications in the drug class Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs are used in the treatment of Acute Compartment Syndrome?

Which medications in the drug class Opioid Analgesics are used in the treatment of Acute Compartment Syndrome?

Which medications in the drug class Analgesics, Other are used in the treatment of Acute Compartment Syndrome?