Soft Tissue Injuries
A 28-year-old man is brought to the emergency department 4 hours after a motorcycle accident. He has a closed tibial shaft fracture that has been splinted. He complains of severe pain in his leg that is not relieved by morphine. On examination, the leg is tense, and he has pain with passive stretch of the toes. Pulses are palpable but the foot feels cool. Regarding compartment syndrome:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Compartment syndrome occurs when pressure within a closed osseofascial compartment compromises tissu...
The classic "6 Ps" are pain (especially with passive stretch, earliest and most sensitive), pressure...
Compartment syndrome only occurs with open fractures; pulselessness is the earliest sign; the forear...
Intracompartmental pressure measurement can confirm diagnosis; absolute pressure greater than 30 mmH...
Emergent fasciotomy is the definitive treatment; for the leg, a two-incision approach releases all 4...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option