Compartment Syndrome

Compartment syndrome is one of the true emergencies where timing is critical and every hour that passes matters.

Compartment syndrome occurs when pressure in a confined space gets too high. This was compartment syndrome of the arm and forearm due to reperfusion injury that happened with the vessels being compressed for a long time then released. Emergency surgery within hours to open the spaces and take off the pressure.

Complete care meant taking him back to the OR every few days for a while to continue to wash and remove damaged muscle. Once swelling had maxed and wounds were clean, I skin grafted the area that were too swollen to close.

Initially, there was no nerve function below the shoulder. Skin grafting eventually took and he is starting to regain some sensation and motion.

Credit: modernorthointheor