A compartment syndrome is defined as an increase in the compartmental pressure to such an extent that the viability of the tissues and organs within the compartment are threatened. The term describes a syndrome and not a disease, and as such there are many diseases and underlying pathophysiological processes that may lead to such a scenario. The aim of this review is to give a state-of-the-art ...

OBJECTIVES To review the efficacy of the current diagnostic methods of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) after leg fractures. DATA SOURCES A Medline (PubMed) search of the English literature extending from 1950 to May 2007 was performed using "compartment syndromes" as the main key word. Also a manual search of orthopaedic texts was performed. STUDY SELECTION AND EXTRACTION The results were ...

Chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) is a condition in which patients experience pain with exercise that usually subsides with resting.1 CECS is defined as increased pressure within a closed fibro-osseous space that can cause reduced blood flow and tissue perfusion within that space. These changes within a confined compartment can lead to ischemic pain and damage to the tissues of tha...

Compartment syndrome of the forearm is a well described entity but there have been relatively few case reports in the emergency medicine literature of hand compartment syndromes (HCS). Prompt recognition and treatment of this potential limb threat are essential to minimize morbidity and mortality. Presented is a case of a documented hand compartment syndrome following a motor vehicle collision.

A patient with acute peroneal compartment syndrome is presented. This case is unusual because the pathology was localised to the peroneal compartment only and because trauma was not an aetiological factor. Acute and chronic compartment syndromes are discussed and differentiated, and the importance of a high index of suspicion in all cases is emphasised.

Compartment syndrome has been deŽ ned as “a condition in which increased pressure within a limited space compromises the circulation and function of the tissues within that space”.1 It is most commonly seen after injuries to the leg2-5 and forearm6-8 but may also occur in the arm,9 thigh,10 foot,11-13 buttock,14 hand15 and abdomen.16 It typically follows traumatic injury, but may also occur aft...