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Compartment Syndrome Is The Compression of Nerves

Compartment syndrome occurs when increased pressure within a closed muscle compartment impedes blood flow and oxygen delivery, potentially causing tissue death. It most commonly affects the forearms and lower legs. Any condition that increases compartment contents or decreases compartment volume, such as fractures, bleeding, or prolonged limb compression, can raise pressure and risk compartment syndrome. Left untreated, irreversible muscle and nerve damage can result.

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173 views2 pages

Compartment Syndrome Is The Compression of Nerves

Compartment syndrome occurs when increased pressure within a closed muscle compartment impedes blood flow and oxygen delivery, potentially causing tissue death. It most commonly affects the forearms and lower legs. Any condition that increases compartment contents or decreases compartment volume, such as fractures, bleeding, or prolonged limb compression, can raise pressure and risk compartment syndrome. Left untreated, irreversible muscle and nerve damage can result.

Uploaded by

Helen Ann John Romel
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Compartment syndrome is the compression of nerves, blood vessels, and muscle

inside a closed space (compartment) within the body. This leads to tissue death from
lack of oxygenation; the blood vessels being compressed by the raised pressure within
the compartment. Compartment syndrome most often involves the forearm and lower
leg.[1] It can be divided into acute, subacute, and chronic compartment syndrome.

Pathophysiology R

Any condition that results in an increase in compartment contents or reduction in a


compartment’s volume can lead to the development of an acute compartment
syndrome. When pressure is elevated, capillary blood flow is compromised. Edema of
the soft tissue within the compartment further raises the intra-compartment pressure,
which compromises venous and lymphatic drainage of the injured area. Pressure, if
further increased in a reinforcing vicious circle, can compromise arteriole perfusion,
leading to further tissue ischemia.

The normal mean interstitial tissue pressure is near zero in non-contracting muscle. If
this pressure becomes elevated to 30 mmHg or more, small vessels in the tissue
become compressed, which leads to reduced nutrient blood flow, ischemia and pain.
Of particular importance is the difference between compartment pressure and diastolic
blood pressure; where diastolic blood pressure exceeds compartment pressure by less
than 30 mmHg it is considered an emergency.[citation needed]

Untreated compartment syndrome-mediated ischemia of the muscles and nerves leads


to eventual irreversible damage and death of the tissues within the compartment.

Causes

Because the connective tissue that defines the compartment does not stretch, a small
amount of bleeding into the compartment, or swelling of the muscles within the
compartment, can cause the pressure to rise greatly. Common causes of compartment
syndrome include tibial or forearm fractures, ischemic reperfusion following injury,
hemorrhage, vascular puncture, intravenous drug injection, casts, prolonged limb
compression, crush injuries and burns.[4][5] Another possible cause can be the use of
creatine monohydrate; a history of creatine use has been linked to this condition.[6][7]
Compartment syndrome can also occur following surgery in the Lloyd Davis
lithotomy position, where the patient's legs are elevated for prolonged periods. As of
February 2001, any surgery that is expected to take longer than six hours to complete
must include Compartment Syndrome on its list of post-operative complications. The
Lloyd Davis lithotomy position can cause extra pressure on the calves and on the
pneumatic pressure Flowtron boots worn by the patient.

When compartment syndrome is caused by repetitive use of the muscles, as in a


cyclist, it is known as chronic compartment syndrome (CCS).[8][9] This is usually not
an emergency, but the loss of circulation can cause temporary or permanent damage
to nearby nerves and muscles.
Symptoms and signs

pain out of proportion to what is expected,

paresthesia,

pallor,

paralysis,

pulselessness;

6th P, for polar/poikilothermia (failure to thermoregulate)

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