ETIOLOGY

1. DECREASE COMPARTMENT SIZE

e.g casts, splint, burn eschar, lying on limb for long period, etc.
2. INCREASE COMPARTMENT CONTENTS
e.g fractures, muscle swelling due to overexercise,
intracompartmental hemorrhage, etc.
DIAGNOSIS
• History
• Clinical exam : 5P
• Compartment pressure
• Laboratory test : CPK , Urine myoglobin
 TISSUE SURVIVAL 2.:
1. Muscle
3-4 hours: reversible changes
6 hours : variable damage
8 hours : irreversible changes
Nerve
2 hours : looses nerve conduction
4 hours : neuropraxia
8 hours : Irreversible changes
Delayed diagnosis :
- Permanent sensory&motor deficit
- Contractures
- Infection
- amputation
 REST
Palpation of
tense or
PAIN PALLOR swollen
TCH compartments
PASSIVE STRE

CLINICAL
PARAESTHESIA PULSELESSNESS
FEATURES
5P

First sign of nerve

ischaemia
PARALYSIS Late sign
INTRA COMPARTMENT PRESSURE
MEASUREMENT
• Simple needle
• Wick Catheter
• Slit catheter
• Side Port catheter
• Transducer –Tipped Catheter

Objective method of diagnosis CS : measurement of

Intracompartment pressure(ICP)
Technique
• White side technique
CRITICAL PRESSURE
ICP > 30 mmhg as absolute number
or
p < 30 mmhg,
p =diastolic pressure – compartment pressure