Updates in Diagnosis and Management of Forearm Compartment Syndrome
Main Article Content
Abstract
In children, compartment syndrome of the forearm often arises from supracondylar fractures, whereas in adults, distal radius fractures are the predominant cause. In 48% of instances, diagnosis was based exclusively on clinical assessment, while in the remaining 52% of cases, a combination of intracompartmental pressure measurement and clinical assessment was used. Several methods, including wick catheters, slit catheters, the Whitesides method, and the Stryker compartment pressure measurement device, were employed to measure intracompartmental pressure. The treatment approach of choice was fasciotomy, with a preference rate of 73%. Out of all the patients that needed wound management, postfasciotomy skin grafting was essential in 61% of them, while secondary closure was done in 39% of cases. The most prevalent consequence, observed in 21% of patients, was neurological impairment.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
I. McMillan, T. E., Gardner, W. T., Schmidt, A. H., & Johnstone, A. J. (2019). Diagnosing acute compartment syndrome—where have we got to?. International orthopaedics, 43, 2429-2435.
II. Elliott, K. G., & Johnstone, A. J. (2003). Diagnosing acute compartment syndrome. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery British Volume, 85(5), 625-632.
III. Leversedge, F. J., Moore, T. J., Peterson, B. C., & Seiler III, J. G. (2011). Compartment syndrome of the upper extremity. The Journal of hand surgery, 36(3), 544-559.
IV. Yang, S., Wang, T., Long, Y., Jin, L., Zhao, K., Zhang, J., ... & Hou, Z. (2023). The impact of both-bone forearm fractures on acute compartment syndrome: An analysis of predisposing factors. Injury, 54(8), 110904.
V. Ali, P., Santy-Tomlinson, J., & Watson, R. (2014). Assessment and diagnosis of acute limb compartment syndrome: A literature review. International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing, 18(4), 180-190.
VI. Grottkau, B. E., Epps, H. R., & Di Scala, C. (2005). Compartment syndrome in children and adolescents. Journal of pediatric surgery, 40(4), 678-682.
VII. De Billy, B., Gindraux, F., & Langlais, J. (2014). Osteotomy and fracture fixation in children and teenagers. Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research, 100(1), S139-S148.
VIII. Hwang, R. W., de Witte, P. B., & Ring, D. (2009). Compartment syndrome associated with distal radial fracture and ipsilateral elbow injury. JBJS, 91(3), 642-645.
IX. Syme, J. E. L. (2021). Compartment Syndrome and Fasciotomies. Interventional Critical Care: A Manual for Advanced Practice Providers, 433-440.