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Compartment syndrome

Syndroma compartimenti · Kompartmentový syndrom

What it is

Pressure inside a muscle compartment cuts off its own blood supply.

Symptoms & signs

  • Pain out of proportion
  • pain on passive stretch
  • tightness
  • paraesthesia
  • late: pulselessness and paralysis

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Pain far worse than the injury, rising despite painkillers
  • call 112 / 911 now Pain when fingers or toes are gently stretched
  • call 112 / 911 now Tight, rock-hard swelling of the limb
  • call 112 / 911 now Numbness or tingling in the limb

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Emergency fasciotomy
  • remove casts and dressings
  • do not elevate above heart level

Natural & lifestyle

  • None — this is a surgical emergency within hours

Emerging & experimental

  • Continuous pressure monitoring
  • near-infrared spectroscopy

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Elevation, ice and painkillers — can hide it; only surgery releases the pressure anecdotal / traditional
  • Massage — can make it worse anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes