injuries poisoning
Compartment Syndrome
Diagnosis of Compartment Syndrome
Measurement of compartment pressure Diagnosis of compartment syndrome must be made and treatment started before pallor or pulselessness develops, indicating necrosis. (See also How To Measure Compartment Pressure in a Forearm and Typical symptoms and signs may be absent. Findings are not specific because similar findings are sometimes caused by the fracture itself. Many trauma patients have altered mental status due to other injuries and/or sedation. Thus, in patients with at-risk injuries, clinicians must have a low threshold for measuring compartment pressure (normal≤8 mm Hg), usually with a commercially available pressure monitor. Compartment syndrome is confirmed if compartmental pressure is more than about 30 mm Hg or within about 30 mm Hg of diastolic blood pressure (BP). (See also the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons'clinical practice guidelinefor the management of acute compartment syndrome.) 