Compartment Syndrome

By admin On Jun 16, 2024

Ovid: Pediatrics

Editors: Tornetta, Paul; Einhorn, Thomas A.; Cramer, Kathryn E.; Scherl, Susan A.

Title: Pediatrics, 1st Edition

> Table of Contents > Section II: – Emergency Department > 15 – Compartment Syndrome

Compartment Syndrome

Howard R. Epps

Compartment syndrome is a potentially devastating
condition that requires immediate attention. Elevated pressures, within
the confined compartments of a limb, cause permanent injury to muscle
and nerves. Early recognition and treatment can arrest the process
before irreversible damage occurs. Prompt detection and treatment can
result in excellent outcomes; delayed or missed diagnosis can cause
significant disability. The challenge remains to make an early
diagnosis, particularly in children.

PATHOGENESIS

Etiology

Compartment syndrome results from intrinsic causes, extrinsic causes, or both (Box 15-1).

BOX 15-1 CAUSES OF COMPARTMENT SYNDROMES

Intrinsic Causes

Fracture (open or closed)
Crush injury
Vascular injury
Burns
Toxic venom
Viral illness
Intraosseous infusion
Venous or arterial access
Intramuscular hematoma
Hemophilia
Traction (skin or skeletal)
Intraoperative positioning (lithotomy)
Osteotomy or leg lengthening
Osteomyelitis
Prolonged tourniquet application

Extrinisic Causes

Compressive cast or bandages
Pneumatic antishock garment
Prolonged external pressure

Intrinsic factors increase the volume inside the limited space of a limb compartment, raising the internal pressure.
Extrinsic causes elevate the intracompartmental pressure by external compression.

Pathophysiology

Intrinsic or extrinsic factors initiate a series of events that eventually cause a compartment syndrome:

Bleeding within a compartment is a common
etiology, but increased vascular permeability, or transient ischemia
followed by reperfusion and cellular edema are commonly implicated as
well.
The insult raises the pressure inside the compartment.
Once the pressure rises above venous pressure, outflow is obstructed.
Decreased venous outflow, in turn, causes intracompartmental congestion and further elevation of tissue pressure.
The pressure eventually exceeds arteriolar and capillary pressure, causing ischemia.
Cellular swelling from ischemia further increases the volume and pressure within the compartment.
Without decompression, the ischemia eventually causes irreversible damage to muscles and nerves.

DIAGNOSIS

Compartment syndrome is a clinical diagnosis. A high
index of suspicion is critical, particularly in children. While
compartment pressure measurement provides valuable information, when
possible one should rely primarily on the clinical examination.

Physical Examination and History

Clinical Features

The clinical signs of a compartment syndrome result from
the effects of increased pressure and subsequent ischemia. The primary
features include:

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Algorithm 15-1 Algorithm for diagnosis and treatment of compartment syndrome.

Pain (particularly with the characteristics listed below)
- □ Out of proportion to clinical scenario
- □ Progressive
- □ Poorly controlled by analgesics
- □ Persistent despite fracture stabilization
Pain with passive stretch of muscles of compartment
Tenseness of compartment
Tenderness to palpation of compartment
Paresthesias in distribution of involved nerves (late)
Paralysis (late)

A noncommunicative, very young, or comatose patient
deserves special attention. Sometimes the only signs of compartment
syndrome are a child who is inconsolable or agitated, or one with an
increasing analgesic requirement. A high index of suspicion is
essential in this group of patients. One should have a low threshold
for measuring compartment pressures to supplement the clinical findings.

The diagnostic workup of compartment syndrome is outlined in Algorithm 15-1.

TREATMENT

Any patient with suspected compartment syndrome requires
immediate treatment. Sometimes the process can be halted by prompt
removal of extrinsic factors like a constricting bandage or cast.
Patients who do not respond to such measures require an urgent
fasciotomy.

Surgical Indications

The indication for fasciotomy is a clinical examination
consistent with compartment syndrome. In equivocal cases, compartment
pressures can help clarify the clinical picture. Pressures are measured
in all compartments with a commercial pressure-measuring device, slit
catheter, wick catheter, or arterial line transducer. The value
necessary for diagnosis varies; pressures over 30 mm Hg and pressures
within 30 mm Hg of diastolic blood pressure have both been proposed as
diagnostic. It must be emphasized that the entire clinical picture
should be weighed. An examination suggestive of compartment syndrome
outweighs nonsupportive pressure measurements. The morbidity of a
missed compartment syndrome considerably exceeds the morbidity of a
fasciotomy.

Surgical Approaches

The standard fasciotomy in the leg is performed through two longitudinal incisions, one on each side.
- □ The medial incision provides access to the posterior superficial and posterior deep compartments.
- □ The lateral incision opens to the anterior and lateral compartments (Fig. 15-1).
- □ Ideally, there should be a skin bridge of at least 6 cm between the incisions.
- □ Careful dissection is necessary to
  avoid injury to the superficial peroneal nerve in the lateral incision,
  and both the saphenous nerve and vein in the medial incision.
Another technique is the single incision or perifibular approach.
- □ A single lateral incision is made on the lateral side of the leg extending from the fibular head to the lateral malleolus.
- □ Dissection anteriorly allows release of
  the anterior and lateral compartments; posterior dissection exposes the
  posterior superficial compartment.
- □ The interval between the lateral and posterior superficial compartments provides access to the posterior deep compartment (Fig. 15-2).
- □ Proximally, the peroneal nerve is at risk for injury and should be avoided.
The partial fibulectomy technique is contraindicated in children.
In the forearm, a volar Henry approach is used to release the superficial and deep flexor compartments.
- □ The incision can be extended into the hand if a carpal tunnel syndrome is suspected.
- □ A midline incision is used dorsally (Fig. 15-3).
The nine compartments of the foot are decompressed through a single medial incision and two dorsal incisions.
- □ The medial incision extends from behind the medial malleolus to the first metatarsal neck.
- □ The dorsal incisions are centered over
  the second and fourth metatarsals. Both approaches provide access to
  all nine compartments.
If the compartment syndrome is diagnosed late, and myonecrosis is present, devitalized tissue is débrided.
- □ The patient is returned to the operating room after 2 to 3 days for reexamination and further débridement if necessary.
- □ Closure is attempted once all necrotic tissue has been removed and the wound is healthy.

Figure 15-1
Surgical technique for two-incision fasciotomy of the leg. (Adapted
from Green NE, Swiontkowski MF, eds. Skeletal trauma in children.
Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1994:84.)

Figure 15-2 Technique of Davey, Rorabeck, and Fowler for decompression of leg compartments. (A) Lateral skin incision from fibular neck to 3 to 4 cm proximal to lateral malleolus. (B) Skin is undermined anteriorly, and fasciotomy of anterior and lateral compartments is performed. (C) Skin is undermined posteriorly, and fasciotomy of superficial posterior compartment is performed. (D)
Interval between superficial posterior and lateral compartments is
developed. Flexor hallicus longus muscle is dissected subperiosteally
off fibula and retracted posteromedially. Fascial attachment of
tibialis posterior muscle to fibula is incised to decompress muscle.
(Adapted from Davey JR, Rorabeck CH, Fowler PJ. Am J Sports Med
1984;12:391.)

Results and Outcome

With early diagnosis and treatment, the results after fasciotomy are excellent. If necrosis has occurred, the patient

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will have disability dependent on the extent of the muscle loss and nerve injury.

Figure 15-3 Surgical technique for fasciotomy of the forearm. (A) Dorsal incision. (B) Volar incision. (Adapted from Green NE, Swiontkowski MF, eds. Skeletal trauma in children. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1994:83.)

Postoperative Management

After uncomplicated fasciotomy, the limb is elevated for
5 to 7 days to decrease swelling. The child then returns to the
operating room for delayed primary closure or skin grafting if
necessary.