Spontaneous compartment syndrome of all limbs: A case report

Abstract

Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that results from increased pressure in a closed muscle compartment segment, which affects tissue perfusion and leads to necrosis. It can be acute because of fracture and crush injury or chronic due to recurrent transient increases in the intra-compartmental pressure that occurs during exertional activities. Rhabdomyolysis is a rare cause of compartment syndrome; clinicians should be aware of different atypical presentations of compartment syndrome and should have a low threshold for such a case. Early diagnosis and intervention may lead to better clinical outcome and may prevent any possible complication or future morbidity and disabilities. We are presenting a rare case of spontaneous atraumatic four-limb compartment syndrome in a patient post-minimal exertion, which was managed by urgent surgical fasciotomy and compartment decompression. 29 months follow-up; patient regained full function of both upper extremity without residual motor or sensory deficit, while he had bilateral foot drop without sensory deficit, and he was walking using bilateral ankle foot orthotic (AFO). We hypothesize that his compartment syndrome developed due to rhabdomyolysis, which was extenuated by dehydration.

Impending Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Pseudoaneurysm following Stabilization of Proximal Tibia Shaft Fracture: A Case Report

“…Compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency with multiple traumatic and nontraumatic causes [1]. There have been reports of uncommon multiple conditions leading to acute compartment syndrome outside the scope of trauma such as diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, leukemia infiltration, nephrotic syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, and the use of anticoagulation [2‒5]. The relation between tibia shaft fracture and compartment syndrome has been well established in the literature, and the gold standard treatment of such a fracture is intramedullary nail fixation with surgical decompression of the leg compartments [6, 7].…”