Acute Limb Compartment Syndrome: A Review

Does a pressure increase translate into an adjacent compartment? A cadaver study

“…Thus, the biomechanical communication of the compartment interfaces maintain individual properties and should be categorized. All over limb fasciotomy is currently recommended in cases of an ACS of the lower limb [2,4,5,8]. The experimental data show, that an isolated ACS in the anterior tibial compartment, e.g.…”

“…No major change in the theory of the underlying pathophysiology has been observed in the last decades [4][5][6][7][8]. It may be caused by either a volume increase within a closed fascial space, or externally applied pressure that compresses muscular structures8.…”

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: What's in a Name?

“…64,82 Intramuscular intracompartmental pressures that approach diastolic blood pressure (typically around 70 mmHg) for at least several hours produce a phenomenon known as acute compartment syndrome (although prolonged intracompartmental pressures above 40 to 45 mmHg are typically a warning that an acute compartment syndrome may occur, and indicate that aggressive treatment is warranted). 32,97 Acute compartment syndrome results when the pressure from excessive interstitial fluid within a closed anatomical compartment compresses small blood vessels and blocks oxygen supply to the tissue for several hours or more. 32 The consequences of a very prolonged acute compartment syndrome can be catastrophic or even fatal, as the ischemic muscle eventually degenerates, producing toxic metabolites that lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, characteristic of crush syndrome or tourniquet shock.…”

“…32,97 Acute compartment syndrome results when the pressure from excessive interstitial fluid within a closed anatomical compartment compresses small blood vessels and blocks oxygen supply to the tissue for several hours or more. 32 The consequences of a very prolonged acute compartment syndrome can be catastrophic or even fatal, as the ischemic muscle eventually degenerates, producing toxic metabolites that lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, characteristic of crush syndrome or tourniquet shock. 32,79 However, a critical study by Vollmar et al 92 has shown that intracompartmental pressures much lower than those needed to produce acute compartment syndrome also have significant effects on microvascular function.…”

“…32 The consequences of a very prolonged acute compartment syndrome can be catastrophic or even fatal, as the ischemic muscle eventually degenerates, producing toxic metabolites that lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, characteristic of crush syndrome or tourniquet shock. 32,79 However, a critical study by Vollmar et al 92 has shown that intracompartmental pressures much lower than those needed to produce acute compartment syndrome also have significant effects on microvascular function. Thus, intracompartmental pressures between 25 and 35 mmHg block arterial flow in smaller arterioles and venules.…”