Músculo fascial compartments (leg)

Question 1

What is the investing deep fascia layer in the leg known as?

Answer 1

Crural fascia

Question 2

What 4 things separate the leg into 3 muscular compartment

Answer 2

• Deep fascia
• Tibia
• Fibula
• Interosseus membrane

Question 3

What are the 3 compartments of the leg and their nerve supplies?

Answer 3

• Anterior - Extensor: Deep peroneal nerve (DP nerve)
• Lateral - Fibular : Superficial Fibular nerve (SP nerve)
• Posterior - Flexor: Trigeminal nerve (T nerve)

Question 4

What are the 3 muscle groups of the posterior compartment of the leg and where do they come from?

Answer 4

• Superficial group
• Intermediate group
• Deep group

These 3 groups come from the calf muscles

Question 5

What is compartment syndrome?

Answer 5

This is when the arterial perfusion pressure falls below tissue pressure in a closed anatomical compartment. It can develop wherever there is an anatomical compartment and can lead to necrosis if it untreated

Question 6

What are the possible causes of compartment syndrome?

Answer 6

Increased pressure in an anatomical compartment which can be caused by :

• Decreased compartment size
• Increased fluid content which could be due to burns, intra arterial injection or haemorrhages

Question 7

What is an ischaemic injury?

Answer 7

An injury caused by a lack of blood flow or no blood blow. The resulting injury is usually hypoxia

Question 8

Describe the pathophysiology of compartment syndrome

Answer 8

• Follows the path of an ischaemic injury
• When pressure increases, tissue perfusion is decreased until no O2 is available for cellular metabolism