Compartment syndrome is a condition in which there is a buildup of pressure inside a muscle compartment. A muscle compartment consists of muscle tissue, blood vessels, and nerves which are all enclosed in fascia, a sheet of connective tissue around muscles which stabilizes, surrounds, and separates the muscle. Since fascia is not flexible and does not expand, pressure inside the compartment can cause injury to the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves which are part of the group. Pressure in the compartment can come in the form of bleeding or swelling. The pressure can cut off blood supply to the muscles, endangering the affected limb. Muscle compartments most commonly affected are in the legs and arms.
Aside from fracture, other injuries that can lead to acute compartment syndrome include:
The nature of this condition is sudden and intense, as are the symptoms. This condition is considered a medical emergency and must be treated immediately with surgery. Left untreated, it can result in nerve damage or amputation.
Acute compartment syndrome is a sudden onset of the condition and is typically experienced after a trauma, such as a fracture or a gunshot wound. Symptoms include:
This version of the syndrome develops over a long period due to repetitive motion such as exercise in the form of swimming, tennis, or running. Chronic (exertional) compartment syndrome is more difficult to diagnose because it happens over a long period of time. It is marked by pain or cramping during physical exertion, which usually subside when the exercise stops.
Look out for these six symptoms if you experience pain during physical activity:
When experiencing these symptoms, "walking it off" is never a good idea. Exercising through the pain may lead to permanent nerve and muscle damage. In order to diagnose chronic compartment syndrome, a doctor will measure the pressure in the affected area before and after exercise. If the pressure remains high after exercising, the doctor will diagnose the patient with compartment syndrome.
For acute compartment syndrome, the only treatment is surgery. The surgeon will make an incision and open up the affected compartment and release pressure. Since the surgeon is opening the fascia, this procedure is called a fasciotomy. Nonsurgical treatment for chronic compartment syndrome includes rest - mainly refraining from repeating the activity which caused pain in the affected limb, anti-inflammatory medication, manual decompression, and sometimes physical therapy. If symptoms do not subside, a fasciotomy will be performed to open the fascia and release pressure, making room for the muscles. Surgery is the most effective treatment. However, those with chronic compartment syndrome may choose to treat it manually before turning to surgery.
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