Acute limb ischemia and compartment sydrome Flashcards
What is Compartment Syndrome?
Increased intracompartmental pressure impairs tissue perfusion (ICP)
What are the major two causes of CS and what are examples of each?
Vascular
Ischemia-reperfusion
CS 21% of acute ischemia
IR causes muscle tissues injury, interstitial edema. Oxygen free radicals increase permeability
Trauma
Arterial occlusion initiates IR
Fasciotomy for blunt 11%, penetratig 30%
Venous outflow obstruction
Phelgmesia cerulea dolens, harvesting of deep veins from thigh
Hemorrhage
Rapid increase in compartment pressure
Non-Vascular
Fracture
Tibia or forearm most common cause of ortho
Muscle swelling, bleeding
Anterior compartemenr and flexor compartement most prone
Comminuted fracture more likely to result in CS
Crush injry
Iatrogenic
Extra of large volumes, or caustic medications. Punctures in coagulopathic patients
What is secondary compartment syndrome?
CS with no overt evidence of trauma
diffuse microvascular permeability from trauma induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome combined with massive fluid resuscitation
What are clinical findings of CS?
disproportionate pain
tense, swollen
pain on passive movement elicits pain
loss of 2 point discrimination
absence of clinical findings
Numbness interweb space (ant)
What pharmacological interventions can decrease CS?
mannitol
allopurinol
they reduce oxygen free radicals and reduce impact of schema-reperfusion
What are two different techniques in fasciotomy?
Single vs double incision
Describes each surgical approach for fasciotmy.
Single-incision
Lateral incision over fibula from neck to 3-4cm above lateral malleolus
Sc flap anterior direction to access anterior and lateral compartments
Posterior flap to access superficial posterior compartment
Flexor hallucis longus identified and dissected off fibula in subperiosteal plane
Fascial attachement of PT to the fibula is incised to open deep post compartment. Most do not perform a fibulectomySingle-incision
Double-incision
Lateral incicions over intermuscular spetum b/w ant and lat compartements, apporx 4cm lateral to crest of the tibia. anterior and lateral compartments.
Medial aspect of leg incision 1-2cm posterior to the tibia, for posterior decompression incision over gastroc, for deep compartment divide soleal attachments off tibia and incise fascia
What are advantages/disadvantages for each surgical technique of fasciotomy?
single
one incision
tedious
potential injury to perineal nerve
double
simple
but two large incision have high morbidity
Describe technique for thigh fasciotomy.
Incision on lateral thigh. Start just distal to intertrochanteric line and extending distal to lateral epicondyle
Iliotibial band exposed and incised longitufinally to decomp anteriror
Vastus lat reflected medially to exposed lateral IM septum which is then incised
Medial usually does not need decomp
Incision over adductor muscle group
What are different was of closing fasciotomies?
delayed primary
secondary intention
dradual dermal apposition
split-thickness grafting
myocutaneous flap
What are complications of CS?
myonecrosis
amputation 5-20%
neuro deficits 5-35%
what complications are related to myonecrosis?
hyperK
hypocalcemia
elevated LFT
DIC
myoglobinuria
RF
What are complications for missed CS?
50% require amp
90% neuropathy
after 3-4 days decompression not indicated b/c myonecrosis too high
Volkmanns contracture
What is chronic compartment syndrome?
exercise induced pain and tightness of the lower legs esp ant compartment
within 20-30 mins abates 15-30mins
bilat 82%
What are pressure criteria for diagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome?
1 resting ICP >15mmHg
2 ICP >30mmhg 1-2 mins after completion of exercise
3 ICP >20mmhg 5 mins after completion of exercise
one or more for diagnosis