Hilário Alcântara, Micael Belo, Tiago Pereira and Francisco Flores
Introduction: Acute compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency. If not treated properly it may lead to irreversible changes in function and viability of the limb, and cause death to patient.
Methods: Retrospective study of a group of patients with diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome treated in a single trauma center from 2008 to 2018. We collected the data using patient files and clinical assessment. We studied the mechanism of lesion, anatomic area damaged, Injury Severity Score, time elapsed from the injury to the final diagnosis, hospital length of stay, viability, and function of the limb.
Results: Nine patients were identified (eight male) with mean age of 44,8±17,5 years old. Four patients were transferred from another institution for definitive care. The acute compartment syndrome was related with high energy trauma in seven patients. Five patients had tibial fractures with comminution. In eight cases the localization of acute compartment syndrome was in the leg. Mean hospital length of stay was 48,7±29,5 days.
Discussion and Conclusion: High energy trauma in young patients should make us very alert to the possibly of developing acute compartment syndrome. However, it is necessary a high index of suspicion in older age patients with history of monotrauma.
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