Compartment syndrome of the leg after less than 4 hours of elevation on a fracture table.
Compartment syndrome of the leg is usually associated with significant trauma. It has also been associated with prolonged surgery in the hemilithotomy position. Fracture tables that are used for the internal fixation of proximal femur fractures under fluoroscopy place a patient in this position. This report chronicles two cases of intraoperative compartment syndrome of the leg that was elevated and contralateral to a subtrochanteric femoral fracture. In each case, the syndrome was found at the procedure's conclusion and was addressed with fasciotomies. One patient continued to have neurologic sequelae from the compartment syndrome 2 years later.
Meldrum
Russell
R
Department of Orthopedics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46022, USA.
Lipscomb
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D013997:Time Factors