title: Acute Compartment Syndrome of the Lower Leg: A Review.
abstract: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) of the lower leg is a time-sensitive orthopedic emergency that relies heavily on precise clinical findings. Late findings of ACS can lead to limb amputation, contractures, paralysis, multiorgan failure, and death. Hallmark symptoms of ACS include the 6 P's: pain, poikilothermia, pallor, paresthesia, pulselessness, and paralysis. Suspicion of ACS is confirmed by measurement of intracompartmental pressure of the affected compartment. The definitive treatment of ACS is timely fasciotomy. We review the pathophysiology, common causes, diagnosis, and treatment of this potentially devastating condition.
authors: Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Pechar
authors: Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, Perelman School of Medicine and School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, mlyons@nursing.upenn.edu.
authors: M Melanie
authors: MM
authors: Lyons
keywords: Stryker; acute compartment syndrome; delta pressure; intracompartmental pressure; orthopedic