Ultrasound evaluation of acute compartment syndrome: Based on healthy volunteers / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To explore the application value of ultrasound in the early noninvasive monitoring of acute compartment syndrome model, and to provide reference for further clinical applications.Methods:This was a prospective self-controlled study. A model of healthy volunteers with acute compartment syndrome was established by cuff compression. The random method was used to determine the experimental side and the control side. The experimental side cuff was given 0, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 mmHg pressure in sequence, while the control side cuff was kept uncompressed at all times. Each pressure on the experimental side lasted for 5 min, during which the ultrasound was used to measure the blood flow waveform and vascular structure of the bilateral popliteal artery, popliteal vein and dorsal plantar artery. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated measures analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of variance.Results:The study included 25 healthy volunteers. There was no statistically significant difference in calf circumference and anterior tibial compartment thickness ( P = 0.314 and 0.678). During compression, the volunteers' heart rate and blood pressure were stable ( P = 0.235 and 0.358). On the experimental side, the maximum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery during systole increased with the increase of pressure ( P<0.001), and the minimum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery increased with the increase of pressure ( P<0.001). When pressurized by 30 mmHg, the maximum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery on the experimental side was significantly higher than that on the control side [(73 ± 19) cm/s vs (59 ± 14) cm/s, P=0.023)]. When pressurized by 20 mmHg, the minimum blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery on the experimental side was significantly higher than that on the control side [(-28 ± 8) cm/s vs (-22 ± 6) cm/s, P=0.012)]. With the increase of pressure, the diastolic retrograde arterial flow ratio of the experimental side gradually increased ( P <0.001), and when the pressure was increased by 20 mmHg, the diastolic retrograde arterial flow ratio of the experimental side of the popliteal artery increased significantly [(0.42 ± 0.14) cm/s vs (0.30 ± 0.12) cm/s, P=0.009)]. The systolic prograde arterial flow ratio of the dorsal artery in the experimental side decreased with the increase of pressure ( P = 0.024). Conclusions:Increased limb compartment pressure can significantly change the arterial flow waveform of the proximal and distal arteries, and ultrasound can be used as an early monitoring tool for acute compartment syndrome.

A case of rhabdomyolysis with compartment syndrome in the right upper extremity / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#Acute compartment syndrome refers to a series of symptoms of muscles and nerves in the compartment of the fascia due to acute ischaemia and hypoxia. It is more common in the volar and calf of the forearm.[1] Due to long-term ischaemia of muscles and nerves in the fascia, muscle necrosis and neurological dysfunction can occur, causing serious irreversible damage to the limbs. However, rhabdomyolysis is one of the major complications in the absence of fractures or other trauma. Rhabdomyolysis syndrome refers to the destruction and disintegration of striated muscle caused by various causes, by which intracellular components such as creatine kinase and myoglobin enter the blood circulation, causing systemic disorders in the body and even acute renal failure and other clinical syndromes.[2] This case introduces rhabdomyolysis induced by skeletal muscle ischaemia and hypoxia caused by upper limb compression after drinking, accompanied by upper limb compartment syndrome.

Effectiveness of Serial Measurement of Differential Pressure in Closed Tibial Diaphyseal Fractures in Diagnosing Acute Compartment Syndrome using Whiteside's Technique

Acute Compartment Syndrome is a limb-threatening emergency and it occurs most commonly after fractures. The aim of our study is to find out the effectiveness of serial measurement of differential pressure in closed tibial diaphyseal fractures, in diagnosing acute compartment syndrome, using Whiteside’s technique. A total of 52 cases in the age group of 15 to 55 years admitted with closed fractures were studied for serial compartment pressure as well as serial differential pressure. Eight patients had persistent compartment pressure > 40mmHg, out of which only two patients had persistent differential pressure < 30mmHg and these two patients underwent fasciotomy. Thus, by measuring the compartment pressure serially and calculating differential pressure serially, acute compartment syndrome can be diagnosed or ruled out with higher precision, so that unnecessary fasciotomies can be avoided.

Clinical Outcomes of Fasciotomy for Acute Compartment Syndrome

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes and complications after fasciotomy in acute compartment syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen cases diagnosed as compartment syndrome and underwent fasciotomy from January 2011 to February 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. We investigated the causes and regions of acute compartment syndrome, the methods of wound management, the necessity of skin graft, and the complications including amputation and infection. RESULTS: According to the causes of acute compartment syndrome, there were 7 fractures, 1 traumatic hematoma, 6 reperfusion injury, and 3 rhabdomyolysis. The regions of acute compartment syndrome were 3 cases of thigh, 10 cases of leg, and 3 cases of foot. One case had acute compartment syndrome involving thigh, leg, and foot. Of 17 cases, 3 cases died due to reperfusion injury and one case with severe necrosis of soft tissues underwent amputation. Among the 13 cases excluding 4 cases with death or amputation, 3 cases underwent split thickness skin graft. Shoelace technique and/or vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) was used for 9 cases, and wound closure without skin graft was achieved in all except one case, while 2 cases required skin graft among 4 cases without shoelace technique or VAC. There were 2 cases of infection. CONCLUSION: Acute compartment syndrome caused by reperfusion injury had poor outcomes. Shoelace technique and/or VAC were useful for management of wound after fasciotomy.

Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg and Foot / 대한족부족관절학회지

Acute compartment syndrome of the lower leg and foot is a surgical emergency. The clinical symptoms is an important clue to diagnose compartment syndrome. In cases of ambiguous diagnosis, unconscious patients and children additionally need a intracompartmental pressure measuring. Immediate fasciotomy should be performed when clinical signs are obvious or when delta pressure is less than 30 mmHg or intracompartmental pressure is greater than 30 mmHg. Fasciotomy of the lower leg can be performed either by one lateral single incision or double incision, which of the foot mainly has a dorsal or medial incision. A delayed in diagnosis that leads to a delay in treatment can result in devastating disability. Acute compartment syndrome of the lower leg and foot is a relative rare but serious complication of which a surgeon should be aware.

Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Thigh Caused by Contusion: 4 Cases Report

Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh, which usually occurs in the anterior compartment, is a rare condition. It can have various causes including femur fractures, vessel injury, pseudoaneurysm of the femoral or popliteal artery, and use of anticoagulant. However, there have been few reports of acute compartment syndrome of the thigh without fracture caused by blunt trauma. We report 4 cases of acute compartment syndrome of the thigh without fracture caused by blunt trauma, in which three patients were treated with fasciotomy and a Vacuum-Assisted wound Closure system and the other one had a delayed diagnosis, and eventually underwent above-knee amputation.

HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY OF ACUTE COMPARTMENT SYNDROME AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PLASMA FIBRONECTIN CONCENTRATION AND PROGNOSIS / 第二军医大学学报

This report describes for the first time the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 253 kPa on post-trauma acute compartment syndrome in 24 patients and the relationship between the prognosis of the syndrome and the changes of plasma fibronectin.Plasma fibronectin was measured using single radial immunodiffusion before and after the therapy and 30 healthy subjects were used as controls.The results showed that clinical symptoms and signs of 16 patients with acute compartment syndrome at the early stage were significantly improved after 3-5 times of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and recovered without performing fasciotomy; infection, edema and swelling of the injuried limbs and temperature were markedly reduced in 6 patients treated with hyperbaric oxygen after fasciotomy, and no good therapeutic efficacy was obtained in 2 patients at the necrotic stage although their clinical symptoms and signs were partially improved.It was also found that plasma fibronectin concentrations were significantly increased in these patients after hyperbaric oxygen therapy.The mean increase was 47(18.9%, P