title: Compartment syndrome after "bath salts" use: a case series.
abstract: In recent years, synthetic cathinones, often labeled as "bath salts" in an attempt to evade drug laws, have emerged as substances of abuse. Sympathomimetic drugs are well known to cause rhabdomyolysis but are rarely associated with acute compartment syndrome. In this case series, we describe 3 patients who presented with sympathomimetic signs or symptoms including hyperthermia and agitation and had confirmed synthetic cathinone use. All 3 patients had severe rhabdomyolysis with delayed development of an acute compartment syndrome. Two patients developed paraspinal compartment syndromes, whereas 1 developed bilateral forearm compartment syndromes. Management included fasciotomy in 2 patients and medical management in the third. Two of the 3 patients made a complete recovery before hospital discharge; the third patient was hemodialysis dependent at 5-month follow-up.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. mdlevine@usc.edu
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Levine
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Levitan
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Skolnik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C023665:cathinone