title: Acute compartment syndrome complicating a distal tibial physeal fracture in a neonate.
abstract: This case report of a neonate who developed an acute compartment syndrome secondary to a minimally displaced distal tibial physeal injury represents the youngest patient to be reported with such a condition. After undergoing emergency four-compartment decompression fasciotomies, the 4-week-old child had a return of normal neuromuscular function and anatomic remodeling of the fracture. It is difficult to diagnose compartment syndrome in a neonate. The patient can neither give a history, nor follow commands to cooperate with the exam. The physician must rely primarily on the physical examination; however, the quantitative measurement of intracompartmental pressure can corroborate the diagnosis of compartment syndrome. We have found using a monometer to measure intracompartmental pressure to be helpful in conjunction with a physical exam when evaluating a neonate suspected of having a compartment syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens, Inc., Queens, New York, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brogle
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Denton
mesh_terms: D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging