Compartment Syndromes (Subscribe)
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- Anterior Compartment Syndrome (0)
- Anterior Compartment Syndrome
- Foot Compartment Syndrome (1)
- Foot Compartment Syndrome
- Forearm Compartment Syndromes (2)
- Internet resources relating to compartment syndromes of the forearm
- Hand Compartment Syndrome (2)
- Hand Compartment Syndrome
- Thigh Compartment Syndrome (1)
- Thigh Compartment Syndrome
- Volkmann Ischaemia (1)
- Volkmann Ischaemia
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Lower Extremity Compartment Syndrome
Lower extremity compartment syndrome
When to suspect acute or chronic pressure buildup
Randall Swain, MD; David Ross, MD
VOL 105 / NO 3 / MARCH 1999 / POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE
CME learning objectives
To recognize both acute and chronic compartment syndromes in the sports setting
To understand the differential diagnosis of lower leg pain in athletes
To learn the workup and treatment of potential compartment syndrome cases
Lower Extremity Compartment Syndrome eMedicine Orthopedics
Wallace, Goodman & Smith2007
As many as 45% of all cases of CS are caused by tibial fractures. Other causes include any long-bone fracture, vascular injury, compression in the setting of a crush injury, drug overdose, and a tight cast or dressing. Late manifestations of CS include the absence of a distal pulse, extremity paresis, and hypoesthesia. If CS is strongly suspected in the clinical examination, operative decompression is the mainstay of therapy. Compartment-pressure measurements are usually reserved for diagnosing chronic CS, for evaluating comatose patients, or for other conditions in which the clinical examination findings are equivocal. Although rhabdomyolysis and subsequent renal failure are among the most severe life-threatening complications, Volkmann contractures are the more commonly observed limb deformities. This article discusses the current understanding of CS of the lower extremity.
Synonyms and related keywords: CS, chronic CS, chronic exertional CS, exertional CS, recurrent CS, subacute CS, Volkmann ischemia, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, exertional rhabdomyolysis, recurrent compartment syndrome, subacute compartment syndrome, fasciotomy, compartment release
As many as 45% of all cases of CS are caused by tibial fractures. Other causes include any long-bone fracture, vascular injury, compression in the setting of a crush injury, drug overdose, and a tight cast or dressing. Late manifestations of CS include the absence of a distal pulse, extremity paresis, and hypoesthesia. If CS is strongly suspected in the clinical examination, operative decompression is the mainstay of therapy. Compartment-pressure measurements are usually reserved for diagnosing chronic CS, for evaluating comatose patients, or for other conditions in which the clinical examination findings are equivocal. Although rhabdomyolysis and subsequent renal failure are among the most severe life-threatening complications, Volkmann contractures are the more commonly observed limb deformities. This article discusses the current understanding of CS of the lower extremity.
Synonyms and related keywords: CS, chronic CS, chronic exertional CS, exertional CS, recurrent CS, subacute CS, Volkmann ischemia, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, exertional rhabdomyolysis, recurrent compartment syndrome, subacute compartment syndrome, fasciotomy, compartment release
