RT Book, Section
A1 Reichman, Eric F.
SR Print(0)
ID 57707577
T1 Chapter 75. Fasciotomy
T2 Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e
YR 2013
FD 2013
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-161352-1
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57707577
RD 2024/04/19
AB A  compartment  syndrome  is  a  serious  and  sometimes  catastrophic  entity  that  can  lead  to  irreversible  local  and  systemic  damage.1  It  typically  results  from  increased  interstitial  pressure  in  a  closed  and  confined  space  that  leads  to  inadequate  perfusion  and  impaired  function  of  the  tissues  contained  within  that  space.  Locally,  a  compartment  syndrome  may  lead  to  loss  of  function,  contractures,  rhabdomyolysis,  infection,  and  amputation.  This  can  be  followed  by  systemic  complications  such  as  renal  failure,  sepsis,  and  possibly  death.2  Common  causes  of  a  compartment  syndrome  include  circumferential  burns,  constrictive  dressings,  crush  injuries,  electrical  injuries,  exercise,  external  compression  of  a  limb,  external  trauma  to  the  extremity,  open  or  closed  fractures,  reperfusion  after  a  vascular  insult,  snakebites,  and  tight  fitting  casts  or  splints  (Table  74-1).1–20