Compartment Syndrome - Dr. Montijo

Compartment Syndrome
- A condition in which increased pressure within a limited space leads to compromise to associated structures.

Caused by:
Decreased compartment size (ie, tight casting)
Increased compartment contents (ie, bleeding, edema)

1. Fracture - most common cause
2. Blunt trauma / soft tissue injury - second most common cause

How much time do you have:
- 3-4 hrs you can still have reversible changes.
- 6-8 hours you can have irreversible damage.

Dx
- Pain out of porpotion
- Tense compartment
- Pain with passive stretch - but this is more then simply moving the toe... really needs to flex/extend the ankle to see if the compartments of the LE are involved.

- Parasthesia, Pulseless and Pallor are late signs!!

Check Compartment Pressures
- Clinical dx but if unsure check compartment pressures- all 4 compartments
- Suspect Compartment Syndrome, with equivocal or unreliable exam.
- If it is a clear clinical picture, no need to take pressures.

See PedEM Morsel for more.