title: [Effectiveness of early fasciotomy in the management of snakebites].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to emphasize that early fasciotomy performed in the treatment of snakebites in the absence of the classic compartment syndrome criteria accelerates the clinical recovery and reduces the progressive tissue damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen patients with snakebite were examined retrospectively. Five of them healed with routine treatments. Six patients who did not respond to the treatment underwent early fasciotomy procedure in 48 hours. All of the patients had edema, pain, ecchymosis, bulla formation, and progressive skin necrosis over the extremity. Fasciotomy was performed in three patients who were referred in the late period with compartment syndrome. Fasciotomy incisions were closed after 4-6 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the early fasciotomy, edema diminished rapidly, the skin became more viable and local necrosis did not progress. Further, the toxic symptoms like local temperature increase and fever also diminished. The healing process in the three patients who underwent late fasciotomy was much slower compared with the early fasciotomy group. In particular, necrosis on the muscle and skin had deteriorated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fasciotomy has a special place in snakebites. In cases of compartment syndrome, all necessary treatments including early fasciotomy should be performed before the full clinical symptoms develop or the compartment pressure reaches the threshold value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, İnönü University School of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey. cemal.firat@inonu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fırat
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erbatur
authors.forename: Ahmet Hamdi
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Aytekin
authors.forename: Hıdır
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kılınç
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012909:Snake Bites / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult