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Trauma
intermediate
X-Type

Forearm Compartment Syndrome

Compartment Syndrome

A 32-year-old man presents 6 hours after sustaining both-bone forearm fractures in a motorcycle accident. Despite adequate splinting, he has severe forearm pain out of proportion to his injury, pain with passive finger extension, tense swelling, and weakness of finger flexion. Radial pulse is palpable but diminished. Compartment pressure measurement shows 42 mmHg with diastolic blood pressure of 70 mmHg. Regarding forearm compartment syndrome:

Mark each as TRUE or FALSE

A

The forearm has three compartments: volar (flexor), dorsal (extensor), and mobile wad (brachioradial...

B

The 6 Ps (pain, pressure, paresthesia, paralysis, pallor, pulselessness) are classic signs but late ...

C

The forearm has two compartments; the dorsal compartment is most commonly affected; the radial nerve...

D

Treatment is emergent fasciotomy of all involved compartments; volar Henry approach (extended volar ...

E

Volkmann ischemic contracture is the sequela of missed or delayed treatment; it causes flexion contr...

Answer the questions to see explanations

Click T (True) or F (False) for each option