Of 1532 explosion victims only 9 died in hospital. Injury to the chest or abdominal organs was rare (10 patients of whom 5 died). Primary blast lung was apparent in only 2 patients. Major limb amputations occured in 16 patients of whom 4 died. None of the 50 patients with burns required skin grafts. Injuries were predominantly to the head and neck and limbs, suggesting the protective effect of clothing. Half of the patients suffered from emotional shock, most with no physical injury and 82 per cent of whom were female. Eighty-three per cent of patients arrived at hospital between 10.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.

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We describe three patients with a compartment syndrome of the thigh, two after total hip replacement and one after total knee replacement. Two of the patients were fully anticoagulated. A compartment syndrome of the thigh is a rare, but important complication of joint replacement surgery if patients are receiving anticoagulants. Close observation is needed and when indicated monitoring of the intracompartmental pressure should be done. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of an acute compartment syndrome and knowledge of the anatomy of the compartments of the thigh will help in the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially devastating complication.

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