Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

J Musculoskelet Trauma : Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma

OPEN ACCESS

Articles

Page Path
HOME > J Musculoskelet Trauma > Volume 28(4); 2015 > Article
Original Article
Clinical Outcomes of Fasciotomy for Acute Compartment Syndrome
Ji Yong Park, M.D., Young Chang Kim, M.D., Ph.D., Ji Wan Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2015;28(4):223-229.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2015.28.4.223
Published online: October 19, 2015

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Ji Wan Kim, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, 875 Haeun-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48108, Korea. Tel: 82-51-797-0668, Fax: 82-51-797-0669, H00106@paik.ac.kr
• Received: July 1, 2015   • Revised: July 20, 2015   • Accepted: July 20, 2015

Copyright © 2015 The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

  • 21 Views
  • 0 Download
prev next
  • Purpose
    The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical outcomes and complications after fasciotomy in acute compartment syndrome.
  • Materials and Methods
    Seventeen cases diagnosed as compartment syndrome and underwent fasciotomy from January 2011 to February 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. We investigated the causes and regions of acute compartment syndrome, the methods of wound management, the necessity of skin graft, and the complications including amputation and infection.
  • Results
    According to the causes of acute compartment syndrome, there were 7 fractures, 1 traumatic hematoma, 6 reperfusion injury, and 3 rhabdomyolysis. The regions of acute compartment syndrome were 3 cases of thigh, 10 cases of leg, and 3 cases of foot. One case had acute compartment syndrome involving thigh, leg, and foot. Of 17 cases, 3 cases died due to reperfusion injury and one case with severe necrosis of soft tissues underwent amputation. Among the 13 cases excluding 4 cases with death or amputation, 3 cases underwent split thickness skin graft. Shoelace technique and/or vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) was used for 9 cases, and wound closure without skin graft was achieved in all except one case, while 2 cases required skin graft among 4 cases without shoelace technique or VAC. There were 2 cases of infection.
  • Conclusion
    Acute compartment syndrome caused by reperfusion injury had poor outcomes. Shoelace technique and/or VAC were useful for management of wound after fasciotomy.
  • 1. Oh CW, Lee HJ. Acute compartment syndrome after trauma. J Korean Fract Soc, 2010;23:399-403.
  • 2. Elliott KGB, Johnstone AJ. Review article: diagnosing acute compartment syndrome. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 2003;85:625-632.
  • 3. Fulkerson E, Razi A, Tejwani N. Review: acute compartment syndrome of the foot. Foot Ankle Int, 2003;24:180-187.
  • 4. Frink M, Hildebrand F, Krettek C, Brand J, Hankemeier S. Compartment syndrome of the lower leg and foot. Clin Orthop Relat Res, 2010;468:940-950.
  • 5. Chae SU. Acute compartment syndrome of the lower leg and foot. J Korean Foot Ankle Soc, 2013;17:165-173.
  • 6. Daniels M, Reichman J, Brezis M. Mannitol treatment for acute compartment syndrome. Nephron, 1998;79:492-493.
  • 7. Lee KB, Lee SH. Diagnosis and management of acute compartment syndrome. J Korean Fract Soc, 2015;28:93-101.
  • 8. Vo A. Closing the fasciotomy wound following compartment syndrome. UOJM, 2013;3:38-41.
  • 9. McQueen MM, Gaston P, Court-Brown CM. Acute compartment syndrome. Who is at risk. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 2000;82:200-203.
  • 10. Stark E, Stucken C, Trainer G, Tornetta P 3rd. Compartment syndrome in Schatzker type VI plateau fractures and medial condylar fracture-dislocations treated with temporary external fixation. J Orthop Trauma, 2009;23:502-506.
  • 11. Volanska M, Zavacky P, Bober J. Ischaemic-reperfusion damage of tissue and critical limb ischaemia. Bratisl Lek Listy, 2006;107:264-268.
  • 12. Ganie FA, Lone H, Wani ML, Ahmad Dar F, Wani NU, Wani SN. Role of liberal primary fasciotomy in traumatic vascular injury. Trauma Mon, 2012;17:287-290.
  • 13. Kronja G, Misović S, Tomić A. Indications and results of fasciotomy in vascular injuries of the lower extremities. Vojnosanit Pregl, 2000;57:271-276.
  • 14. Shon OJ, Kim GB, Park CH. Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh caused by contusion: 4 cases report. J Korean Fract Soc, 2012;25:215-218.
  • 15. Rööser B, Bengtson S, Hägglund G. Acute compartment syndrome from anterior thigh muscle contusion: a report of eight cases. J Orthop Trauma, 1991;5:57-59.
  • 16. Weaver MJ, Owen TM, Morgan JH, Harris MB. Delayed primary closure of fasciotomy incisions in the lower leg: do we need to change our strategy. J Orthop Trauma, 2015;29:308-311.
  • 17. Kakagia D, Karadimas EJ, Drosos G, Ververidis A, Trypsiannis G, Verettas D. Wound closure of leg fasciotomy: comparison of vacuum-assisted closure versus shoelace technique. A randomised study. Injury, 2014;45:890-893.
  • 18. Saziye K, Mustafa C, Ilker U, Afksendyios K. Comparison of vacuum-assisted closure device and conservative treatment for fasciotomy wound healing in ischaemia-reperfusion syndrome: preliminary results. Int Wound J, 2011;8:229-236.
  • 19. Zorrilla P, Marín A, Gómez LA, Salido JA. Shoelace technique for gradual closure of fasciotomy wounds. J Trauma, 2005;59:1515-1517.
Fig. 1

(A) A 41-year-old male had both a tibia shaft fracture and severe swelling on the left leg with pain. Emergency fasciotomy was performed with a double incision on lateral (B) and medial (C). A photograph at 4 days after injury shows that shoelace technique and negative pressure wound dressing was applied on lateral (D) and medial (E). Progressive wound closure was performed using shoelace technique and negative pressure wound dressing on the lateral side (F) and medial side (G). (H, I) At 16 days after injury, complete wound closure was possible without skin graft.

jkfs-28-223-g001.jpg
Table 1

Summary of Clinical Course in 17 Patients

jkfs-28-223-i001.jpg

M: Male, F: Female, T: Traumatic, U/C: Uncheckable, AK: Above knee, BK: Below knee, VAC: Vacuum-assisted closure, STSG: Split thickness skin graft.

Figure & Data

REFERENCES

    Citations

    Citations to this article as recorded by  

      • Cite
        CITE
        export Copy Download
        Close
        Download Citation
        Download a citation file in RIS format that can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Reference Manager.

        Format:
        • RIS — For EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and most other reference management software
        • BibTeX — For JabRef, BibDesk, and other BibTeX-specific software
        Include:
        • Citation for the content below
        Clinical Outcomes of Fasciotomy for Acute Compartment Syndrome
        J Korean Fract Soc. 2015;28(4):223-229.   Published online October 31, 2015
        Close
      • XML DownloadXML Download
      Figure
      • 0
      We recommend
      Related articles
      Clinical Outcomes of Fasciotomy for Acute Compartment Syndrome
      Image
      Fig. 1 (A) A 41-year-old male had both a tibia shaft fracture and severe swelling on the left leg with pain. Emergency fasciotomy was performed with a double incision on lateral (B) and medial (C). A photograph at 4 days after injury shows that shoelace technique and negative pressure wound dressing was applied on lateral (D) and medial (E). Progressive wound closure was performed using shoelace technique and negative pressure wound dressing on the lateral side (F) and medial side (G). (H, I) At 16 days after injury, complete wound closure was possible without skin graft.
      Clinical Outcomes of Fasciotomy for Acute Compartment Syndrome

      Summary of Clinical Course in 17 Patients

      M: Male, F: Female, T: Traumatic, U/C: Uncheckable, AK: Above knee, BK: Below knee, VAC: Vacuum-assisted closure, STSG: Split thickness skin graft.

      Table 1 Summary of Clinical Course in 17 Patients

      M: Male, F: Female, T: Traumatic, U/C: Uncheckable, AK: Above knee, BK: Below knee, VAC: Vacuum-assisted closure, STSG: Split thickness skin graft.


      J Musculoskelet Trauma : Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma
      Close layer
      TOP