Summary
Definition
History and exam
Other diagnostic factors
- pain
- pressure (muscle tightness)
- paresthesia
- paralysis
Risk factors
- trauma
- bleeding disorder
- compression support
- thermal injury
- intense muscular activity
- extravasation of intravenous infusion
- venous obstruction
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- compartment pressure measurement
Tests to consider
- serum creatine kinase
- urine myoglobin
- troponin
Treatment algorithm
acute with occlusive dressing
acute without occlusive dressing
chronic
Contributors
Authors
Dr Arvind von Keudell, MD, MPH
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeon
Associate Professor
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Denmark
Disclosures
AK declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Arvind von Keudell would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Miren A. Schinco and Dr Victor J. Hassid, the previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
MAS and VJH declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Jennifer Cone, MD, MHS, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Section of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program
Co-Director, Military General Surgery Residency Program
Department of Surgery
The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences
Chicago
IL
Disclosures
JC declares that she has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Stress fracture
- Acute ischemia
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Diagnosis and management of acute compartment syndrome
More GuidelinesPatient information
Burns
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