Compartment syndrome is a disease that occurs when there is high pressure inside a compartment of a muscle, which causes them to swell so much that the blood can not circulate to some places and cause injuries to the muscles and nerves. When blood can not reach some muscle sites, it can cause oxygen to not reach the tissues, which can cause cell death.
This syndrome can occur in the lower or upper limbs and cause symptoms such as numb, swollen, pale and cold to the touch and treatment depends on the severity of the injury, but in most cases surgery is necessary.
What causes
Compartment syndrome can occur as a result of bleeding or swelling of a compartment, which can cause pressure to build up inside the compartment and may impede the passage of blood.
Types of compartment syndrome
There are two types of compartment syndrome:
1. Acute compartment syndrome
This type of syndrome usually occurs due to an injury, such as a fracture, crushing a limb, wearing a bandage or other tight object, drinking alcohol or excessive drug use.
The most common symptom in these cases is severe pain that does not improve even by lifting the injured limb or taking medication and worsening when stretching or using the limb. Other symptoms may include a tightening sensation in the muscle or a tingling or burning sensation in the skin around the affected area and in more severe cases numbness or paralysis of the limb occurs.
This syndrome requires urgent treatment, and it may be necessary to resort to amputation.
2. Chronic compartment syndrome
Although the reason for this is still unclear, chronic compartment syndrome can occur because of repeated exercise, such as swimming, tennis or running.
In these cases, intense pain may be felt during exercise, which passes about 30 minutes after the end of exercise. Other symptoms that may occur are difficulty moving the injured limb, numbness in the limb, or a lump in the affected muscle.
How is the treatment done?
In the case of acute compartment syndrome, surgery is usually necessary and the procedure involves a cut of the fascia to reduce pressure in the compartment. In some cases it may be necessary to leave the region open until reducing the swelling or even making a skin graft. In very serious cases or if treatment is too late, it may be necessary to amputate the limb.
In cases of chronic compartment syndrome, before opting for surgery, the physician may recommend physiotherapy to lengthen the muscle, anti-inflammatory remedies, altering the type of exercise, or performing the exercise with less impact by applying ice to the site after physical activity. If none of these methods work, surgery may be necessary.