title: [Complete brachial plexus paralysis caused by compartment syndrome in heroin intoxication].
abstract: We report the case of a young man with heroin intoxication. While deeply unconscious, he sustained a compartment syndrome of the arm and shoulder region leading to a lesion of the upper plexus. Immediate surgical decompression by fasciotomy incisions, intensive care treatment including hemofiltration to treat myoglobinemia, intense physical exercise, and mesh-grafting closure of the wounds soon led to unexpected recovery. The function of the arm was restored in such a way that the patient was able to intoxicate himself again. He needed intubation and ventilation but recovered uneventfully.
authors.affiliation: Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Heidelberg, Zentrum für Anästhesiologie.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jost
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rossmanith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000150:complications*; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010243:Paralysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000601:surgery; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin
vernacular_title: Kompletter Plexus-brachialis-Ausfall durch Kompartmentsyndrom bei Heroinintoxikation.