Skip to main content

Compartment Syndrome

Overview


Compartment syndrome occurs when pressure rises in and around muscles. The pressure is painful and can be dangerous. Compartment syndrome can limit the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to muscles and nerves. It can cause serious damage and possible death. Compartment syndrome occurs most often in the lower leg.


What is a compartment?

A compartment is a group of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. A thin but firm membrane (covering) called a fascia lies over each compartment. It keeps the muscles in place. But the fascia isn’t meant to stretch or expand much.



What causes compartment syndrome?


A serious injury or too much physical exertion can cause swelling or bleeding in a compartment. The fascia won’t expand to make room, so the swelling or bleeding puts pressure on the nerves and muscles. Healthcare providers call this compartmental pressure.

If the pressure gets too high, the tissues can’t get enough blood, which contains oxygen and nutrients. The tissues can die, leading to permanent damage to the area. These complications can also threaten your life.



What types of injuries can cause compartment syndrome?

Examples of injuries that can cause compartment syndrome include:

1.Badly bruised muscle.

2.Car accident.

3.Crush injury, such as when something falls on you.

4.Sudden return of blood flow after something blocks circulation, such as surgery or loss of consciousness.



What types of activities can cause exertional compartment syndrome?

Chronic compartment syndrome can happen when a person overtrains (exercises too much). Sports with very repetitive movements pose a particular risk. Examples include:

1.Biking.

2.Running.

3.Swimming.



What are the symptoms of compartment syndrome?

The symptoms of compartment syndrome can include:

1.Bulging or visible swelling of the muscle.

2.Feeling like the muscle is fuller, swollen or somehow larger than normal.

3.Numbness.

4.Muscle pain that is stronger than you’d expect from the injury.

5.Severe pain when you stretch the muscle.

6.Tightness in the muscle.

7.Tingling or burning sensation in or under your skin, called paresthesias.



How is compartment syndrome diagnosed?

If you think you have acute compartment syndrome, go to an emergency room right away. It’s a medical emergency that needs treatment. If you think you have exertional compartment syndrome, call your healthcare provider.

A healthcare provider will do a few things to diagnose compartment syndrome:

1.Physical exam: The healthcare provider will look for signs you might have something else.

2.X-ray: The healthcare provider may ask for an X-ray to see if you have a fracture.

3.Compartment pressure measurement test: If the provider suspects compartment syndrome, you’ll need a test to measure the pressure. The provider will insert a needle into the muscle. A machine attached to the needle will give the pressure reading. The healthcare provider may insert the needle in several different places.

4.Repeat pressure test: For exertional compartment syndrome, the test gets repeated after you exercise. The healthcare provider will compare before and after results.



Types of compartment syndrome

Acute compartment syndrome

This type of compartment syndrome typically occurs after you experience a major injury. In rare cases, it can also develop after a minor injury. For example, you may develop acute compartment syndrome:

1.following a fracture

2.after an injury that crushes your arm or leg

3.as a result of a severely bruised muscle

4.from wearing a cast or tight bandage

5.from heavy drinking or drug use


Chronic (exertional) compartment syndrome

Exercise, especially when it involves repetitive motion, can cause this form of compartment syndrome. It occurs most frequently in people under 40, but you can develop it at any age.

You’re more at risk for developing chronic compartment syndrome if you do activities such as swimming, playing tennis, or running. Intense or frequent workouts can also increase your risk.

The link between exercise and chronic compartment syndrome isn’t fully understood.


Treatment options for compartment syndrome

Acute compartment syndrome

Surgery is the only treatment option for this type of compartment syndrome. The process involves cutting open the fascia to reduce the pressure in the compartment. In severe cases, your doctor will have to wait for the swelling to go down before closing the incision, and some of these wounds require skin grafting.

If you developed this condition because of a cast or tight bandage, the material will need to be removed or loosened.


Chronic compartment syndrome

Your doctor may recommend nonsurgical treatment methods first, including:

1.physical therapy to stretch the muscle

2.anti-inflammatory medication

3.changing the type of surface you exercise on

4.performing low-impact activities as part of your exercise routine

5.elevating the extremity

6.resting after activity or modifying the activity

7.icing the extremity after activity

If these methods don’t work, you may need surgery. Surgery is generally more effective than nonsurgical methods for treating chronic compartment syndrome.



Does compartment syndrome go away?

It is usually caused by a severe injury and is extremely painful. Without treatment, it can lead to permanent muscle damage. Chronic compartment syndrome, also known as exertional compartment syndrome, is usually not a medical emergency. It is most often caused by athletic exertion and is reversible with rest.


What exercises can I do with compartment syndrome?

Stretching and Ice Exercise

As an example, if the compartment syndrome is in the lower leg, raise your toes toward your nose for a count of 30 seconds. Then point the toes for 30 seconds. Repeat three to five times. Rest the limb comfortably and rub an ice cube along the tender muscles for five to 15 minutes.



Can you walk after compartment syndrome surgery?

Crutches are only for support the first 24-28 hours after surgery, feel free to walk without crutches as soon as you believe you can safely do so. ICE THERAPY ○ Begin immediately after surgery ○ Use every 2 hours for 20 minutes daily until your first post-operative visit.
































Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charge Syndrome

Overview CHARGE syndrome is a recognizable genetic syndrome with known pattern of features. It is an extremely complex syndrome, involving extensive medical and physical difficulties that differ from child to child. CHARGE syndrome is correlated with genetic mutation to CHD7 and the prevalence of CHARGE syndrome is 1:10,000-1:15,000 live births. Babies with CHARGE syndrome are often born with life-threatening birth defects. They spend many months in the hospital and undergo many surgeries and other treatments. Swallowing and breathing problems make life difficult even when they come home. Most have hearing two little girls sitting on a carpet, one girl has a trach and is biting her finger.loss, vision loss, and balance problems that delay their development and communication. Despite these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, children with CHARGE syndrome often far surpass their medical, physical, educational, and social expectations. One of the hidden features of CHARGE syndrome is the ...
7 comments
Read more

Dehydration Due to Diarrheal Diseases

Overview Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. Anyone may become dehydrated, but the condition is especially dangerous for young children and older adults. The most common cause of dehydration in young children is severe diarrhea and vomiting. Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may have conditions or take medications that increase the risk of dehydration. This means that even minor illnesses, such as infections affecting the lungs or bladder, can result in dehydration in older adults. Dehydration also can occur in any age group if you don't drink enough water during hot weather — especially if you are exercising vigorously. You can usually reverse mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, but severe dehydration needs immediate medical treatment. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ataxia with Vitamin E Deficiency

Synonyms of Ataxia with Vitamin E Deficiency AVED Familial Isolated Vitamin E Deficiency Isolated Vitamin E Deficiency General Discussion Ataxia with vitamin E deficiency (AVED) is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired ability to coordinate voluntary movements (ataxia) and disease of the peripheral nervous system (peripheral neuropathy). AVED is a progressive disorder that can affect many different systems of the body (multisystem disorder). Specific symptoms vary from case to case. In addition to neurological symptoms, affected individuals may experience eye abnormalities, disorders affecting the heart muscles (cardiomyopathy), and abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis). AVED is extremely similar to a more common disorder known as Friedreich’s ataxia. AVED is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Vitamin E deficiency often occurs secondary to disorders that impair the absorption of vitamin E from fat including liver disorders, disorders of fat...
Post a Comment
Read more