[Crush injury and compartment syndrome]

ABSTRACT

Crush injury of an extremity occurs when a limb is compressed between two hard surfaces, to the point where vascular supply is impaired and vulnerable tissues undergo necrosis. Most commonly, limbs are crushed during auto versus pedestrian accidents, motor vehicle crashes, and industrial accidents. However, during natural disasters such as earthquakes, building collapses, landslides, mine cave-ins, and acts of war with mass civilian casualties, epidemics of limb crush injuries can occur. The large number of casualties requiring specialized medical care can easily overwhelm medical systems, particularly if medical facilities are simultaneously affected by the disaster. This article reviews the acute management of vascular and soft tissue injuries in the emergency department