title: Utility of near-infrared spectroscopy in the diagnosis of lower extremity compartment syndrome.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannotti
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: McKenney
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wiseberg
mesh_terms: 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