title: Outcome of compartment syndrome following intramedullary nailing of tibial diaphyseal fractures.
abstract: Seventeen cases of compartment syndrome were treated in a group of 626 consecutive patients with tibial diaphyseal fractures. Clinical and radiological follow-up was performed at an average of 24 months (range 8-54 months). Functional outcome was assessed using Edward's classification. All patients who developed compartment syndrome had fracture stabilisation with a reamed intramedullary nail using skeletal traction. The average interval between the nailing procedure and fasciotomy was 11 h. Results were good in 10 cases, fair in four cases and poor in the remaining three cases. Patients who had decompression within 12 h had a good functional outcome. Patients with poor results were all treated at an interval greater than 24 h.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Merlin Park Hospital, Galway, Ireland. hmullet@indigo.ie
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mullett
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Abed
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014143:Traction / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome