Compartment syndrome

[Julian]

Compartment syndrome is increased pressure in the space around certain muscles. It occurs when injured muscles swell so much that they cut off their blood supply.

Pain in the injured limb increases and is more severe than expected, and as the syndrome worsens, the limb may become numb, swollen, pale, and cool to the touch.
Doctors suspect the diagnosis based on symptoms and confirm it by checking the pulse in the limb and measuring pressure in the compartment.
Doctors immediately remove anything confining the limb, such as a splint or a cast, and if this measure is ineffective, emergency surgery is done to relieve the pressure.
If tissues in the limb die because their blood supply is cut off, the limb may have to be amputated.

Compartment syndrome is rare but serious. It may result in loss of a limb. Or muscles in the affected limb may become permanently shortened (called a contracture).
Certain muscles, such as those of the lower leg, are surrounded by a tight covering made of fibrous tissue called fascia. This covering forms a closed space (compartment) that contains muscle tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. This space cannot expand to accommodate the swelling that occurs when muscles or bones inside the compartment are severely damaged. Because there is not enough room for the swelling, pressure on the muscle tissue in the compartment increases. The increased pressure puts pressure on the blood vessels in the area, and blood cannot reach the muscle tissue and provide it with oxygen. If the muscle is deprived of oxygen for too long, the muscle is damaged further, causing more swelling and increasing pressure in the tissues. After only a few hours, muscle and nearby soft tissue are irreversibly damaged and start to die.
Compartment syndrome is more likely to occur after

A fracture, particularly of the lower leg
A crush injury to a limb

Rarely, compartment syndrome develops when a cast or bandage is too tight and cuts off the blood supply. Other rare causes include snakebites, severe exertion, or overdose of a drug (such as heroin or cocaine).