title: Recurrent compartment syndrome: 2 cases and a review of the literature.
abstract: Compartment syndrome is a potentially devastating entity, and timely recognition is critical for appropriate management. Diagnosis is classically a clinical one and based largely on serial examinations. When clinical examinations are compromised, compartment pressure monitoring may be useful. These diagnostic measures, however, assume recognition of "at-risk" injuries or clinical scenarios. Rarely discussed is whether an open fasciotomy provides any degree of protection from redeveloping compartment syndrome. To this end, we present 2 cases of recurrent compartment syndrome after previous fasciotomy. These reports illustrate a previously unreported at-risk population and demonstrate that compartment syndrome can recur in a previously released compartment. Therefore, prior fasciotomy should not be considered protective against acute compartment syndrome. These patients should be evaluated and managed no differently from patients with primary compartment syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gaskill
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zura
authors.forename: J Mack
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aldridge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001733:Bites and Stings; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012916:Soccer