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Popliteal vein thrombosis causing compartment syndrome: a case report.

Compartment syndrome as a result of venous thrombosis is an uncommon occurrence. Generally, phlegmasia cerulea dolens or proximal venous thrombosis results in elevated compartment pressures. Distal venous occlusion rarely is reported as a cause of compartment syndrome. This is a case report of an otherwise healthy patient in whom popliteal vein thrombosis developed and resulted in elevation > 40 mm Hg of 3 leg muscle compartments requiring fasciotomies.

Acute Disease↗

Abdominal compartment syndrome after liver transplantation.

The abdominal compartment syndrome is a well-known complication after abdominal trauma and is increasingly recognized as a potential risk factor for renal failure and mortality after adult orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We present a case report of a young patient who presented with acute liver failure complicated by an acute pancreatitis. The patient developed an acute abdominal compartment syndrome after OLT. Transurethral measurement of intraabdominal pressure indicated an abdominal compartment syndrome associated with impaired abdominal vascular perfusion, including liver perfusion. Renal insufficiency was immediately reversed after decompressive bedside laparotomy. The abdominal compartment syndrome is a potential source of posttransplant renal insufficiency and liver necrosis in OLT. It remains, however, a rarely described complication after liver transplantation, despite the presence of significant factors that contribute to elevated intraabdominal pressure.

Adult↗

Compartment syndrome of the foot in children.

Compartment syndrome of the foot following trauma is well known in adults but has not been discussed frequently in texts on pediatric trauma. In the current study, seven children and teenagers were identified as having had compartment syndrome of the foot during a five-year period. The average age at the time of the diagnosis was ten years (range, four to sixteen years). The cause of the compartment syndrome was a crush injury in six patients and a motor-vehicle accident in one. All patients had swelling and pain with passive motion, but none had neurovascular deficits. Only the two oldest children had an osseous injury that necessitated open reduction and internal fixation, but all had elevated compartment pressures ranging from thirty-eight to fifty-five millimeters of mercury (5.07 to 7.33 kilopascals). All seven patients had fasciotomies of the nine compartments of the foot, and the skin was closed primarily within five days after the operation. No patient had complications or needed a skin graft. All patients had a good or excellent result after an average duration of follow-up of forty-one months (range, twenty-three to fifty-three months). Orthopaedists managing children who have a traumatic injury of the foot, especially a crush injury, should have a high index of suspicion for compartment syndrome, even in the absence of severe fracture.

Adolescent↗

Acute kidney dysfunction secondary to the abdominal compartment syndrome.

The abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) occurs most commonly in the setting of major trauma and complex abdominal surgical procedures. The syndrome reflects the adverse physiological consequences of an acute increase in intra-abdominal pressure (generally >18 mm Hg). The effects of increased abdominal pressures on the kidney were initially described in 1876 and include impairment of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration resulting in oliguria or anuria and acute kidney dysfunction. These effects are magnified by the concomitant effects of increased intra-abdominal pressure to impair venous return and cardiac output. Patients with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) can be easily detected using simple methodology. If employed early, abdominal decompression to lower IAH is associated with restoration of organ function and avoidance of the ACS. However, the overall mortality associated with this syndrome remains high. In postsurgical, trauma patients, or those at risk, ACS should be considered as a potential etiology for acute kidney dysfunction and intra-abdominal pressures should be measured, monitored and when necessary intervened upon in order to attempt to improve organ dysfunction.

Abdominal Injuries↗

Use of tissue ultrafiltration for treatment of compartment syndrome: a pilot study using porcine hindlimbs.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the efficacy of compartment syndrome ultrafiltration for the treatment of acute compartment syndrome in an animal model. Our hypothesis is the removal of interstitial fluid will result in a reduction of intramuscular pressure compared with untreated controls in a model of bilateral induced compartment syndrome. DESIGN: Controlled experimental model. SETTING: Animal research facility. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Three pairs of porcine hindlimbs. INTERVENTION: Acute compartment syndrome was created in the pig hindlimb by infusion of saline to maintain the intramuscular pressure 30 mm Hg greater than the animal's mean arterial pressure for 8 hours. After a 2-hour reperfusion interval, ultrafiltration (removal of fluid through 1 mm diameter porous catheters, connected to -500 mm Hg suction) was commenced in 1 limb only and continued for 9.5 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intramuscular pressure, ultrafiltrate volume, ultrafiltrate and serum levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, histologic measurement of extracellular and intracellular edema, as well as the degree of cellular necrosis. RESULTS: Intramuscular pressure tended to be lower on the treated side at the end of the treatment period [treated leg: 9.3 +/- 4.0 mm Hg (+/- SE), control leg: 19.3 +/- 1.4 mm Hg, P = 0.03]. Analysis of ultrafiltrate fluid showed that levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were elevated compared with serum levels. Creatine kinase levels in serum were measured at 4150 +/- 780 U/L, whereas ultrafiltrate levels of creatine kinase were 28,700 +/- 17,700 U/L (+/- SE) (P = 0.1). Lactate dehydrogenase was measured at 1950 +/- 180 U/L in serum, but markedly elevated in ultrafiltrate [160,000 +/- 88,900 U/L (+/- SE), P = 0.05]. Quantification of cellular and interstitial dimensions showed no difference in control and experimental limbs. Quantification of the degree of muscle necrosis revealed 6.1 +/- 2.7% necrosis in the treated limb compared to 11.3 +/- 1.6% necrosis in the control group (P = 0.02, df = 2, 1-tailed paired t test). CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of tissue ultrafiltration for reduction of intramuscular pressure in this porcine model. Further studies are underway. Compartment syndrome ultrafiltration may be useful prophylactically in patients at risk for acute compartment syndrome. Sampling of interstitial fluid and frequent measurement of intramuscular pressure may allow earlier diagnosis and treatment of acute compartment syndrome, whereas the reduction of tissue pressure by compartment syndrome ultrafiltration may prevent acute compartment syndrome from occurring. Additionally, compartment syndrome ultrafiltration will not hinder the ability of clinicians to use the clinical examination and pressure monitoring as the gold standard.

Animals↗

Concurrent periostalgia and chronic proximal deep posterior compartment syndrome in a collegiate track and field athlete: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise-induced leg pain may be triggered by abnormally high compartment pressure. In addition to the more widely publicized anterior compartment syndrome, the deep posterior compartment syndrome can just as frequently occur, resulting in severe pain and disability due to muscle and nerve ischemia. BACKGROUND: Obtaining a thorough history and compartmental pressure measurements are the usual components in the accurate diagnosis of compartment syndromes. While few other disorders mimic compartment syndromes, differential diagnoses must be considered. Surgical management of deep compartment syndrome, consisting of fasciotomy or fasciectomy, or both, is successful for most patients. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: Tibial stress fracture or microfracture, tibial periostitis, tibial periostalgia, distal deep posterior chronic compartment syndrome, proximal deep chronic compartment syndrome, superficial lateral compartment syndrome, deep venous thrombosis, popliteal artery entrapment, or chronic compartment syndrome. UNIQUENESS: Chronic deep compartment syndrome is one of the most common causes of exercise-induced leg pain in aerobic athletes. Therefore, the athletic trainer must be able to recognize the condition. Signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and surgical management of chronic deep compartment syndrome, chronic periostalgia, and superficial lateral compartment syndrame in a 21-year-old Division IA track and field athlete are presented. CONCLUSIONS: With the correct diagnosis, persistent and methodical reevaluation, and appropriate management, the athlete can expect a successful treatment outcome.

Journal Article↗

Multidisciplinary approach to abdominal wall reconstruction after decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome has been shown to reduce mortality in critically ill patients, but little is known about the outcome of abdominal wall reconstruction. This study investigates the role of plastic surgeons in the management and reconstruction of these abdominal wall defects. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 82 consecutive critically ill patients who underwent decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome, at a university level 1 trauma center, from April 2000 to May 2004. Patients reconstructed by trauma surgeons alone (n = 15) were compared with patients reconstructed jointly with plastic surgeons (n = 12), using Student t test and chi analysis. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients underwent decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome, yielding 50 survivors (61%). Of the 27 patients who underwent abdominal wall reconstruction, 6 had early primary fascial repair, and 21 had staged reconstruction with primary fascial closure (n = 4), components separation alone (n = 3), components separation with mesh (n = 10), or permanent mesh only (n = 4). Compared with patients whose reconstruction was performed by trauma surgeons, patients who underwent a combined approach with plastic surgeons were older (50.5 versus 31.7 years, P < 0.05), had more comorbidities (P < 0.001), were less likely to have a traumatic etiology (P < 0.001), had a longer delay to reconstruction (407 versus 119 days, P < 0.05), and were more likely to undergo components separation (P < 0.05). Mean follow-up of 11.5 months revealed 2 recurrent hernias in the combined reconstruction group, both of which were successfully repaired. CONCLUSIONS: A multidisciplinary approach is essential to the successful management of abdominal wall defects after decompressive laparotomy for abdominal compartment syndrome. Although carefully selected patients can undergo early primary fascial repair, most of reconstructed patients had staged closure of the abdominal wall via components separation, with a low rate of recurrent hernia. High-risk patients with large defects and comorbidities appear to benefit from the involvement of a plastic surgeon.

Abdomen↗

Abdominal compartment syndrome in the intensive care unit.

The abdominal compartment syndrome is an increasingly recognized complication of both medical and surgical patients in the ICU setting. This syndrome has been described in a wide variety of clinical scenarios and results from a persistent elevation in intra-abdominal pressure characterized by graded organ system dysfunction. Manifestations of abdominal compartment syndrome include cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, splanchnic, and neurologic impairment. The diagnosis of abdominal compartment syndrome requires a high level of clinical suspicion combined with an increased intra-abdominal pressure, usually obtained via urinary bladder pressure measurement. Patients at risk for abdominal compartment syndrome warrant close monitoring and we recommend prompt abdominal decompression following documentation of increased intra-abdominal pressure in the setting of physiologic compromise. Abdominal compartment syndrome can significantly contribute to the morbidity and mortality of both medical and surgical patients alike in the ICU. The signs and symptoms of abdominal compartment syndrome should become familiar to all critical care practitioners.

Abdomen↗

Forearm compartment syndrome following brachial arterial puncture in uremia.

Although compartment syndromes of the forearm are infrequently encountered, they are well described in the literature. Forearm compartment syndrome uncommonly occurs after percutaneous arterial blood sampling and is usually associated with anticoagulant therapy. Our review of the English literature revealed no other cases of forearm compartment syndrome after arterial blood sampling in patients with bleeding diathesis due to chronic renal failure. This article discusses a 30-year-old woman with Good-pasture's syndrome who developed a compartment syndrome after a brachial artery blood gas. The cause, diagnosis, and treatment of compartment syndrome and uremic bleeding, as well as a review of the literature, are discussed.

Adult↗

Management of chronic exertional anterior compartment syndrome of the lower extremity.

Eighteen patients (28 compartments) with chronic exertional compartment syndrome and 14 normal asymptomatic volunteers (18 compartments) were studied. Evaluation included clinical assessment followed by quantitative determination of intracompartmental pressures as monitored by wick or slit catheters before and after exercise. Intramuscular pressures measuring greater than or equal to 10 mmHg at rest and/or greater than or equal to 25 mmHg five minutes after exercise were defined as abnormally elevated. The patients with chronic compartment syndrome described reproducible exertional anterolateral leg pain, and 39% of these patients had a fascial hernia. Such a defect was present in less than five percent of the normal volunteers. Nonsurgical treatment was selected by five patients and all five reported persistent inability to participate in athletics because of their exertional pain. Of the remaining 13 patients, 12 were treated by decompressive fasciotomy and 11 of the 12 (92%) had pain relief and increased exercise tolerance. A single patient had had fascial closure instead of fasciotomy, and this procedure produced an acute compartment syndrome. Effective treatment of the chronic compartment syndrome consists of reduction of exertional activities or surgical decompression by fasciotomy.

Adolescent↗

[Compartment syndrome in fractures of the shin].

Compartment syndrome represents the most serious complication in the treatment of the fractures of the shin. In the period 1979-1987 17 patients with variously developed form of the compartment syndrome were treated at the Orthopaedic clinic of the Institute for In-service Education of Physicians. 7 patients, i. e. 40 per cent were transported from other clinics. There were 8 open fractures in the group, i. e. 47 per cent, and they were classified according to Allgöwer. All patients were primarily operated on for the fracture of the shin and the compartment syndrome occurred in 11 cases after plate osteosynthesis and in 6 cases as a result of the implementation of an external fixation device. Early fasciotomy in the interval up to two hours after the manifestation of the syndrome was done only in two patients, in three cases fasciotomy was not done at all. From the viewpoint of the types of decompression bilateral incision was done in five cases and parafibular decompression in 7 cases. Restitutio ad integrum after the syndrome does not exist. Results of the treatment range from the healing with the defect of soft tissues to the amputation which was performed in two patients. In the evaluation of surgical errors resulting in the development of the syndrome primary closure of operational wound ranks the first place. In the evaluation of the general biological condition of the organism in 66 per cent polyglobulia and hypalbuminemy were found as an expression of a poor biological condition of the organism and chronic hypoxy. The necessity was stressed of the evaluation of the condition of soft tissues and their contamination and their adequate treatment. The possibility was pointed out of hyperbaric oxygenation as a still neglected component of the causal therapy.

Aged↗

Acute compartment syndrome in lower extremity musculoskeletal trauma.

Acute compartment syndrome is a potentially devastating condition in which the pressure within an osseofascial compartment rises to a level that decreases the perfusion gradient across tissue capillary beds, leading to cellular anoxia, muscle ischemia, and death. A variety of injuries and medical conditions may initiate acute compartment syndrome, including fractures, contusions, bleeding disorders, burns, trauma, postischemic swelling, and gunshot wounds. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, supplemented by compartment pressure measurements. Certain anesthetic techniques, such as nerve blocks and other forms of regional and epidural anesthesia, reportedly contribute to a delay in diagnosis. Basic science data suggest that the ischemic threshold of normal muscle is reached when pressure within the compartment is elevated to 20 mm Hg below the diastolic pressure or 30 mm Hg below the mean arterial blood pressure. On diagnosis of impending or true compartment syndrome, immediate measures must be taken. Complete fasciotomy of all compartments involved is required to reliably normalize compartment pressures and restore perfusion to the affected tissues. Recognizing compartment syndromes requires having and maintaining a high index of suspicion, performing serial examinations in patients at risk, and carefully documenting changes over time.

Compartment Syndromes↗

Compartment syndrome in children.

The development of compartment syndrome is a well-recognized clinical entity. The diagnosis and management of compartment syndrome in the adult population is well established. Because of the difficulty with cooperation in physical examination of children with pain, the early recognition of compartment syndrome in this group of patients can be more challenging. Furthermore, the potential inability to make a prompt and accurate diagnosis can lead to significant extremity morbidity and possibly mortality.

Adolescent↗

Well leg compartment syndrome after pelvic and perineal surgery in the lithotomy position.

OBJECTIVE: Lower limb compartment syndrome after prolonged surgical procedures performed in the lithotomy position is a rare but potentially devastating complication. It is recognised after urological, colorectal, and gynaecological procedures. Sixteen cases of compartment syndrome after urological surgery have been reported. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of this complication in urological practice and identify risk factors for its development. DESIGN: A postal survey of UK consultant urologists was conducted. RESULTS: Replies were received from 261 consultants. In total there were 65 cases of compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome occurred after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion in 51 cases and was rare in procedures lasting less than four hours. The incidence of compartment syndrome after cystectomy was estimated at around 1 in 500 cases. Risk factors for its development included perioperative blood loss, peripheral vascular disease, and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Compartment syndrome after use of the lithotomy position may be more common than is generally appreciated and has been underreported in the past. All staff should be aware of this serious complication and adopt strategies for its avoidance.

Compartment Syndromes↗

Adjunctive treatment of compartment syndrome with hyperbaric oxygen.

Trauma-induced compartment syndrome and other acute traumatic peripheral ischemias have been effectively treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. We describe a case of compartment syndrome associated with an acute exertional injury. After surgical decompression, hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduced edema and improved tissue viability. The mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen applicable to the pathophysiology of compartment syndrome are described. We believe that hyperbaric oxygen is a useful intervention in the management of compartment syndrome.

Adult↗

Upper extremity pediatric compartment syndromes.

Fractures are associated with the majority of compartment syndromes in children. Respect for associated soft-tissue injuries and recognition of specific fractures that can put a limb at risk for compartment syndrome are essential for prevention or successful treatment with early decompressive fasciotomies. In those limbs at risk for compartment syndrome, percutaneous pinning or intramedullary fixation provides fracture stabilization and prevents problems noted with standard cast treatment. Any condition that causes increased tissue pressure within a limited space can lead to compartment syndrome, however. It therefore is important to identify the injured, ill, or hospitalized child with unexplained changes in pain status or soft tissues. In particular, the agitated child with increasing analgesia requirements requires a thorough evaluation. The child's behavior should not be attributed to young age, fear, or fracture pain. This is a trap that must be avoided to prevent the disastrous outcomes of a missed compartment syndrome.

Child↗

Bilateral acute-on-chronic exertional lateral compartment syndrome of the leg: a case report and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: We report a previously undescribed case of bilateral acute exertional compartment syndrome of the lateral compartment arising from pre-existing chronic exertional compartment syndromes. CASE SUMMARY: A 21-year-old football player had a 1-year history of bilateral chronic exertional compartment syndrome. One day after practice his usual symptoms progressed instead of abated and he presented at 3:00 AM with bilateral acute lateral compartment syndromes. His lateral compartment pressures were > 100 mm Hg. Emergency surgical releases were performed and the patient recovered well with full return to competitive football in 4 weeks. DISCUSSION: No prior case of acute-on-chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the lateral compartment has been reported. In addition, this is a case of bilateral acute exertional compartment syndrome. The literature is reviewed with discussion of differential diagnosis, distribution, pathophysiology, and treatment of exertional compartment syndrome. RELEVANCE: Failure to recognize and emergently treat progression of a chronic to an acute exertional compartment syndrome can be devastating.

Adult↗

Intramuscular deoxygenation during exercise in patients who have chronic anterior compartment syndrome of the leg.

Currently, the definitive diagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome is based on invasive measurements of intracompartmental pressure. We measured the intramuscular pressure and the relative oxygenation in the anterior compartment of the leg in eighteen patients who were suspected of having chronic compartment syndrome as well as in ten control subjects before, during, and after exercise. Chronic compartment syndrome was considered to be present if the intramuscular pressure was at least fifteen millimeters of mercury (2.00 kilopascals) before exercise, at least thirty millimeters of mercury (4.00 kilopascals) one minute after exercise, or at least twenty millimeters of mercury (2.67 kilopascals) five minutes after exercise. Changes in relative oxygenation were measured with use of the non-invasive method of near-infrared spectroscopy. In all patients and subjects, there was rapid relative deoxygenation after the initiation of exercise, the level of oxygenation remained relatively stable during continued exercise, and there was reoxygenation to a level that exceeded the pre-exercise resting level after the cessation of exercise. During exercise, maximum relative deoxygenation in the patients who had chronic compartment syndrome (mean relative deoxygenation [and standard error], -290 +/- 39 millivolts) was significantly greater than that in the patients who did not have chronic compartment syndrome (-190 +/- 10 millivolts) and that in the control subjects (-179 +/- 14 millivolts) (p < 0.05 for both comparisons). In addition, the interval between the cessation of exercise and the recovery of the pre-exercise resting level of oxygenation was significantly longer for the patients who had chronic compartment syndrome (184 +/- 54 seconds) than for the patients who did not have chronic compartment syndrome (39 +/- 19 seconds) and the control subjects (33 +/- 10 seconds) (p < 0.05 for both comparisons).

Case-Control Studies↗