title: Intracompartmental Sepsis With Burn: A Case Report.
abstract: Intracompartmental sepsis (IS) is a rare complication in patients with burns. Intracompartmental sepsis presents in patients with inadequate perfusion of intracompartmental tissues and subsequent ischemic necrosis and infection. Contributing factors include high-volume resuscitation, delayed escharotomies, and previous bacteremia. We describe a case of massive burns from a gas explosion and the subsequent development of IS in our intensive care burn unit. The patient presented with a 75% total body surface area burn on admission, with 39% superficial, deep partial-thickness and 26% full-thickness burns. Intracompartmental sepsis was diagnosed 45 days after admission. Anterior compartment muscles, including the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, and extensor digitorum longus, were necrotic with relatively fair nerve and vascular structures. Intracompartmental sepsis is an overwhelming, infectious complication that appears late and can occur easily in patients with major burns. Early diagnosis and management are a must for improving outcomes.
authors.affiliation: From Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Koahsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chieh
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Su-shin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hui-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Hsiao-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chih-Hau
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chung-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Kao-Ping
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sin-Daw
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shu-Hung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology