What is it?
Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within an enclosed bundle of muscles due to the large amount of pressure inside a muscle compartment.
- It usually occurs in the legs, feet, arms or hands, but can occur wherever there’s an enclosed compartment inside the body.
What are compartments?
Compartments are groups of muscle tissue and nearby blood vessels, and nerves surrounded by a very strong membrane called the fascia.
- Fascia does not expand, so swelling in a compartment can result in an increase in pressure inside the compartment. This results in injury to the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves inside the compartment.
- The increase in pressure can cut off blood flow to the compartment restricting the blood flow to the area and potentially damaging the muscles and nearby nerves.
- This can result in loss of oxygen going to the tissues (ischemia) and cellular death (necrosis).
Healthline
There are 2 main types of compartment syndrome:
Acute compartment syndrome:
- Happens suddenly, usually after a fracture or severe injury
- Venom bites
- Animal bites
Chronic compartment syndrome:
- Happens gradually, usually during and immediately after repetitive exercise (such as running or cycling)
- Usually passes within minutes of stopping the activity
- Is not a medical emergency and does not cause permanent damage
Acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency and ideally needs to be treated in hospital within a few hours to avoid permanent damage to the muscles or nerves.
Cause
Acute compartment syndrome
- A broken bone or a crush injury (particularly arm and/or leg) (common)
- Following a fracture
- A plaster cast or tight bandage being applied to a limb before it has stopped swelling causing severe bruising and swelling
- Burns, which can cause the skin to become scarred and tight
- Surgery to repair a damaged or blocked blood vessel (once blood is able to flow back into a muscle, it can lead to swelling)
- Poisoning including venom bites
- Animal bites
Chronic (exertional) compartment syndrome
- The exact cause is unknown
- A leading theory is that it’s caused by temporary swelling of the muscles during exercise affecting the blood supply to a whole group of muscles
- Chronic compartment syndrome usually occurs in young people who do regular repetitive exercise i.e.
- Swimming
- Playing tennis
- Cycling or running
- Intense or frequent workouts
Other:
Illicit drugs
Symptoms
Acute compartment syndrome
(Symptoms of acute compartment syndrome usually develop after an injury and get quickly worse)
- The most common symptom of acute compartment syndrome is severe pain that doesn’t improve after keeping the injured area elevated or taking medication?
- Your leg or arm may feel worse when you stretch it or use the injured muscle?
- Feeling of tightness in the muscle?
- Tingling or burning sensation in the skin around the affected area?
- Intense pain, especially when the muscle is stretched, which seems much worse than would normally be expected for the injury?
- Tenderness in the affected area?
- Tightness in the muscle?
- Severe cases, numbness or weakness (these are signs of permanent damage)?
Chronic compartment syndrome
(Symptoms of chronic compartment syndrome tend to develop gradually during exercise and improve with rest)
- Pain or cramping when you exercise is the most common symptom of chronic compartment syndrome?
- After you stop exercising, the pain or cramping usually goes away within 30 minutes?
- If you continue to do the activity that’s causing this condition, the pain may start to last for longer periods?
- Cramping pain during exercise, most often in the legs?
- Swelling or a visibly bulging muscle and/or a noticeable bulge in the affected muscle?
- Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
- Sharp pain or numbness sensation spread in groin and/or buttocks and/or thighs?
- Tingling and numbness and/or burning pain on the surface of the outer (lateral) part of your thigh?
- Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area and/or leg aching which comes and goes?
- The affected area turning pale and cold?
- Bone and joint movement problems and/or difficulty using arms and/or body and/or legs and/or lack of stamina and/or walking difficulties?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Medical Emergency
And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have and/or develop:
- Experience acute compartment syndrome symptoms
- Numbness
- Paralysis
Acute compartment syndrome Emergency Treatment
- Acute compartment syndrome requires immediate medical attention to relieve pressure. Permanent damage to your muscles and nerves can develop within hours.
- This is a surgical emergency (fasciotomy) and could necessitate an amputation if not addressed immediately
Fasciotomy
- The doctor or surgeon makes an incision to cut open your skin and fascia surrounding the muscles to immediately relieve the pressure inside the muscle compartment.
- The wound will usually be closed a few days later. Occasionally, a skin graft may be required to cover the wound.
Chronic compartment syndrome Treatment and Advice
- Chronic compartment syndrome isn’t considered an emergency, but you should let your doctor know if you’re experiencing any symptoms.
- It can sometimes be relieved by stopping the exercise that triggers it and switching to a less strenuous activity.
- Other treatments include:
- Physiotherapy
- shoe inserts (orthotics)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines
- Don’t try to exercise when you’re in pain, as this can cause permanent damage to your muscles, blood vessels, and nerves.
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Compartment Syndrome in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
- NHS
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- Medscape
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- Pharmaceutical Journal
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