We detail a rare cause of forearm compartment syndrome that occurred in an 18-year-old patient who presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 13/15 after a mixed drug overdose and subsequently required intubation. She suffered extravasation of her propofol infusion, which resulted in intrinsic compression within her forearm muscle compartments. Fortunately, the diagnosis of compartment syndrome was made swiftly and the patient was taken to theatre within 3 h where she underwent an emergency forearm fasciotomy. She made an uneventful recovery and at follow-up her wounds had healed well with no associated morbidity or loss of function. The learning points of this study highlight the importance of thoroughly understanding the signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome while maintaining a high index of suspicion. In addition to a thorough history and examination, consideration of the potential underlying causes allows for a swifter diagnosis and a quicker transition to theatre.

Lisfranc injuries occur at the tarsometatarsal joint resulting from direct or indirect force to the midfoot. They account for only 0.2% of all fractures, with diagnoses easily missed on presentation. The resultant instability is often associated with significant morbidity to the patient. This report describes a Lisfranc injury sustained by a healthy gentleman who suffered indirect trauma to the foot when he fell from a standing height. Plain film radiographs and CT revealed dorsal dislocation of the intermediate cuneiform associated with fractures at the base of the third and fourth metatarsals. He underwent open reduction and internal fixation the following day. His Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI) score improved from 16.3 1 week postoperatively to 58.7 6 months postoperatively. This report describes a rare injury pattern resulting from indirect, low-energy trauma. We provide a guide to appropriate radiological imaging and evaluation in the assessment of these complex injuries.