title: Acute limb compartment syndrome: a review.
abstract: Acute limb compartment syndrome (LCS) is a limb-threatening and occasionally life-threatening condition caused by bleeding or edema in a closed muscle compartment surrounded by fascia and bone, which leads to muscle and nerve ischemia. Well-known causative factors are acute trauma and reperfusion after treatment for acute arterial obstruction. Untreated compartment syndrome usually leads to muscle necrosis, limb amputation, and, if severe, in large compartments, renal failure and death. Alertness, clinical suspicion of the possibility of LCS, and occasionally intracompartmental pressure (ICP) measurement are required to avoid a delay in diagnosis or missed diagnosis. Open fasciotomy, by incising both skin and fascia, is the most reliable method for adequate compartment decompression. The techniques of measuring ICP have advantages and disadvantages, whereas the pressure level that mandates fasciotomy is controversial. Increased awareness of the syndrome and the advent of measurements of ICP pressure have raised the possibility of early diagnosis and treatment. This review reports LCS, including etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, ICP measurement, management, and outcome.
authors.affiliation: Second Surgical Department, 401 General Army Hospital of Athens, 41 Zakinthinou Street, Papagou, Athens 15669, Greece. drsgourgiotis@tiscali.co.uk
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gourgiotis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villias
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Germanos
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foukas
authors.forename: Marco Pericoli
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ridolfini
mesh_terms: D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D013997:Time Factors