Reference values for intramuscular pressure in the lower leg in man

Abstract

Intramuscular pressures in the anterior tibial and superficial posterior compartments of the lower leg were measured by the wick catheter technique in 34 healthy individuals (17 males and 17 females, mean age 42 years). The pressures were measured at rest, during and after exercise and during venous and arterial occlusion. The pressure was 1.1 (range 0.3-3.0) kPa in the anterior tibial and 0.5 (range 0.0-2.0) kPa in the superficial posterior compartment at rest. During exercise the intramuscular pressures rose to 3.5 (range 1.0-8.0) kPa and 0.9 (range 0.1-2.8) kPa respectively. The anterior tibial compartment pressures were lower in females than in males at exercise and lower in older than in younger persons at rest. After exercise the pressures were back to the pre-exercise levels within 5 min. Venous occlusion caused an increase in the pressure which was more marked in the anterior tibial compartment than in the superficial posterior compartment. Arterial occlusion did not cause any dramatic changes in intramuscular pressures, but there was a slight elevation during the period of reactive hyperaemia.

Postthrombotic or non-postthrombotic severe venous insufficiency: Impact of removal of superficial venous reflux with or without subcutaneous fasciotomy

“…10 Intramuscular pressures in the anterior tibial and superficial posterior compartments of the lower limb in healthy volunteers was reported in 1982. 22 Furthermore, significantly elevated subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue pressures have been found in patients with primary lymphedema. 23 Markedly elevated subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue pressures have also been reported in the postphlebitic limb.…”

Subcutaneous fasciotomy and eradication of superficial venous reflux for chronic and recurrent venous ulcers: mid-term results

“…Both PT and non-PT patients had significantly higher intramuscular and subcutaneous tissue pressures compared with normal values. 11,12 Intramuscular tissue pressure in 10 healthy limbs was 9.2 + 4.9 mmHg and corresponding subcutaneous tissue pressure 0.2 + 1.2 mmHg. In the patients' tissue pressures significantly decreased following surgery from 23.5 + 6.1 to 5.5 + 3.1 (intramuscularly) and from 9.8 + 3.2 to 0.6 + 1.1 mmHg (subcutaneously), respectively, and remained low at three months postoperatively.…”

Compartment syndrome associated with the Lloyd Davies position

“…The results of both studies demonstrated that compartment pressure in the calf increases as soon as the legs are placed in the Lloyd Davies position and that there is a further increase over time. The resting intramuscular pressure in the anterior tibial compartment when the subject is supine is ≈ 3–22 mmHg [34–36]. The measured compartment pressure in the elevated limb, hips, knees and ankles flexed to 60, 45 and 90°, respectively, was in the range 27–33 mmHg.…”