COMPART MENT

SYNDROME
Compartment Syndrome

 Compartment syndrome is a painful condition that

occurs when pressure within the muscles builds to
dangerous levels. This pressure can decrease
blood flow, which prevents nourishment and
oxygen from reaching nerve and muscle cells.
 Compartment syndrome can be either acute or
chronic.
 Acute compartment syndrome is a medical
emergency. It is usually caused by a severe injury.
Without treatment, it can lead to permanent
muscle damage.
 Chronic compartment syndrome, also known as
exertional compartment syndrome, is usually not
a medical emergency. It is most often caused by
athletic exertion.
 Anatomy
 Compartments are groupings of muscles,
nerves, and blood vessels in your arms
and legs. Covering these tissues is a
tough membrane called a fascia. The role
of the fascia is to keep the tissues in
place, and, therefore, the fascia does not
stretch or expand easily.
 The area between the knee and ankle has four major
muscle compartments: anterior, lateral, superficial posterior, deep
posterior.
 Causes
 Acute Compartment Syndrome

 Broken bone
 Crush injuries
 Burns
 Overly tight bandaging
 Surgery to blood vessels of an arm or leg
 A bloodclot in a blood vessel in an arm or leg
 A fracture.
 Anabolic steroid use
 Chronic (Exertional) Compartment
Syndrome

 Excessive Exercise/Activities with

repetitive motions such as:

 running
 biking
 Swimming
 tennis
 football
 Symptoms

 Acute Compartment Syndrome

6P’s
 Pain
 Paresthesia [change in sensation]
 Pallor [pale coloration]
 Paralysis
 Poikilothermia [inability to control
temperature]
 pulselessness
 Chronic (Exertional) Compartment
Syndrome

 Pain
 Cramping
 Numbness
 Difficulty
moving the foot
 Visible muscle bulging
Test and Diagnosis
 Physical exam
Imaging studies
 MRI
 NIRS
 Compartment pressure testing
 Treatment
Acute Compartment Syndrome
Surgery:
 Fasciotomy-an operation where the thick,
fibrous bands that line the muscles are
filleted open, allowing the muscles to
swell and relieve the pressure within the
compartment
 Chronic (Exertional) Compartment
Syndrome)

 Physical therapy
 orthotics (inserts for shoes)
 Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory
medicines
Management
Acute compartment syndrome

 Place the affected limb or limbs at the

level of the heart
 Immobilize the lower leg with the ankle in
slight plantar flexion
 Pain management
 Monitor signs of infection
 Wound care
 Chronic exertional compartment
syndrome

 Warm up before starting exercise

 Cool down when you’re done exercising
 Stop if you’re in pain
 Stay hydrated
 Eat a healthy, balanced diet
 Complications

 muscle scarring, contracture and loss of

function of the limb;
 infection;
 amputation;
 permanent nerve damage; and/or
 rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) and
kidney damage.