title: Compartment Syndrome following Open Femoral Fracture with an Isolated Femoral Vein Injury Treated with Acute Repair.
abstract: Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency and its diagnosis is more difficult in obtunded or insensate patients. We present the case of a 34-year-old woman who sustained a Gustilo-Anderson grade III open midshaft femur fracture with an isolated femoral vein injury treated with direct repair. She developed lower leg compartment syndrome at 48 hours postoperatively, necessitating fasciotomies. She was subsequently found to have a DVT in her femoral vein at the level of the repair and was started on therapeutic anticoagulation. This case highlights the importance of recognition of isolated venous injuries in a trauma setting as a risk factor for developing compartment syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Room 508-A, 149 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 1P5.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.affiliation: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Room MG-371, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Axelrod
authors.affiliation: Humber River Regional Hospital, 810 Wilson Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M3K 1E5.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Elizalde