Noninvasive measurement of compartment syndrome.
This study compared the effectiveness of a commercially available invasive intracompartmental pressure measuring device with an investigational noninvasive hardness measuring device in 75 patients undergoing examination for possible compartment syndrome. Legs, forearms, thighs, and arms were tested. Pressure values and hardness ratios were compared to one another as continuous variables and to the clinical diagnosis of compartment syndrome as discrete variables. The compartment with the highest pressure reading within a limb diagnosed with compartment syndrome was compared to limbs without compartment syndrome. Due to the low specificity of the noninvasive measurement of hardness compared to the invasive pressure measurement (0.82 versus 0.96), this study does not support the use of the hardness monitor in the diagnosis of compartment syndrome.
Dickson
Kyle F
KF
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA.
Sullivan
Michael J
MJ
Steinberg
Bruce
B
Myers
Leann
L
Anderson
Edward R
ER
Harris
Mitch
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006245:Hardness Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity