Utility of near-infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of lower extremity compartment syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the utility of near-infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of lower extremity compartment syndrome (CS).


METHODS
Nine patients with CS confirmed by physical examination and elevated compartment pressures (64 +/- 17 mm Hg) were evaluated before and after fasciotomy. Control readings were also performed on 33 surgical patients who had no evidence of CS. The deltoid muscle was used as a reference value.


RESULTS
The deltoid muscle oxygen saturation (StO2) readings revealed a mean = 84 +/- 17% prefasciotomy and mean = 83 +/- 12% postfasciotomy in the CS group. The control group had a mean StO2 of 83 +/- 11%. In the CS group, the leg compartment with the highest pressure had a StO2 mean = 56 +/- 27% before fasciotomy. This value was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.05) than either the postfasciotomy mean StO2 in that compartment (82 +/- 16%) or the values found in matched control patients with no evidence of CS (87 +/- 7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Near-infrared spectroscopy-derived StO2 values in the lower extremities of trauma patients with CS were diminished relative to the control patients and usually normalized after fasciotomy. Near-infrared spectroscopy evaluation may offer a rapid, noninvasive method of assessing extremities at risk for CS.
Giannotti
G
G
Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, Illinois, USA.
Cohn
S M
SM
Brown
M
M
Varela
J E
JE
McKenney
M G
MG
Wiseberg
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared