Intracompartmental sepsis in burn patients.
An uncommon cause of sepsis in patients with large burns is occult intracompartmental infection. A multi-institution review of 1171 burn admissions identified 5 patients (0.4%) who developed intracompartmental sepsis presenting with fever and purulent drainage or fever, erythema, and swelling on clinical examination. Contributing factors may have included high-volume resuscitation, delayed escharotomy, extravasated intraosseous infusion, cannulation-related arterial injury, and splinting or positioning difficulties. A high index of suspicion and an aggressive surgical approach facilitate successful management of this unusual problem.
Sheridan
R L
RL
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Tompkins
R G
RG
McManus
W F
WF
Pruitt
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male