An epidemiological and etiological study on acute compartment syndrome in extremities in patients admitted in RGGGH

Compartment syndrome develops when the tissue pressure in a closed compartment is more than the perfusion pressure. It will reduction lead too reduction in blood supply to muscles and nerves. Late consequences include absent pulses, sensory disturbance, paresis. It is most commonly due to sequestration of fluid within the compartment or reduction in size of the compartment. Patient will have tightness or swelling of the involved limb. Paresthesia is the first sign to appear. Once paresis sets in, the disease is already advanced. Mostly tibial fracture will associated with this. Patient should be evaluated with X-Rays, arterial duplex, venous duplex. Compartment pressure is measured by various techniques. But none of them is accurate. So high index of suspicion for compartment syndrome is important. Management requires emergent fasciotomy followed by treatment of etiology. But fasciotomy is contraindicated in advanced dieases for fear of infection. Myoglobinuria if present it should be addressed simultaneously. In our study, it is the trauma which is most common etiology. Lower limb involvement is outnumbered upperlimb. In trauma, both bone fracture leg is most common etiology. A simple fasciotomy can save limb and prevent morbidity