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European Surgical Orthopaedics and Traumatology pp 221–239Cite as

Compartment Syndromes in the Lower Limb

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Abstract

Compartment syndrome (CS) is the clinical condition characterised by raised pressure within a closed, non-elastic muscle compartment, and it represents a severe complication caused by bleeding or oedema, occurring after fractures or soft tissue trauma, burns and re-perfusion injury following acute arterial obstruction. Although its incidence is relatively low, clinical awareness of this complication, early recognition and appropriate treatment as an emergency situation with fasciotomies are of great importance, in order to prevent morbidity and poor outcomes usually leading to permanent disability. The diagnosis of compartment syndrome is mainly based on clinical signs, but it can often be difficult. Adjunctive use of compartment pressure measurements is desirable, especially in particularly “difficult” cases with inconclusive clinical diagnoses (regional anaesthesia, unconscious or polytrauma patients). A high suspicion index should always be present. A Δp ≤30 mmHg is also an indication for urgent surgical treatment. When the diagnosis is made urgent fasciotomies with adequate decompression of all anatomic compartments at risk must be performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Clarendon wing, Level A, Great George Street, Leeds, UK

    Peter V. Giannoudis & Rozalia Dimitriou

  2. Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece

    George Kontakis

Authors
  1. Peter V. Giannoudis
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  2. Rozalia Dimitriou
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  3. George Kontakis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter V. Giannoudis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, United Kingdom

    George Bentley

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© 2014 EFORT

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Giannoudis, P.V., Dimitriou, R., Kontakis, G. (2014). Compartment Syndromes in the Lower Limb. In: Bentley, G. (eds) European Surgical Orthopaedics and Traumatology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34746-7_69

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-34746-7_69

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-34745-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-34746-7

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