Treatment of compartment syndrome in Madrid

Compartment syndrome or compartment syndrome is a rare but especially serious condition. It usually affects the muscles of the forearm and the inside of the leg, although it can also appear in the hands, feet, thighs and upper arm. In this post we tell you everything you need to know about compartment syndrome.

What is compartment syndrome?

Compartment syndrome is a pathology due to increased pressure in the muscular compartment of the fascia, so that there is an insufficient supply of blood to the tissue found within that space, causing certain problems with blood flow.

Likewise, it can cause damage to nerves and muscles.

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Compartment syndrome is most common in the leg and arm, but it can also be found in areas of the hand and even the foot.

In turn, compartment syndrome is also called acute compartment syndrome or exercise compartment syndrome.

 It is estimated that 3 out of every 100,000 patients have compartment syndrome, and in general terms, it is common to find this incidence in young male patients.

Causes of compartment syndrome

The causes that cause the appearance of compartment syndrome are very diverse.

On the one hand, it is due to the presence of crush injuries, causing damage to muscle tissue, nerves and blood vessels.

Another cause of compartment syndrome is bone fractures, either due to falls or sports injuries.

The presence of muscle bruises is another cause of compartment syndrome.

The realization of Overexertion activities cause compartment syndrome.

In addition, tight bandages due to a tourniquet is another of the most common causes of compartment syndrome.

On the other hand, we can speak of prolonged or chronic compartment syndrome when it is due to performing repetitive activities, so that pain limits these activities.

Symptoms of compartment syndrome

It should be noted that the symptoms of compartment syndrome are not easily detectable, and its worsening is common as the hours go by.

First, intense pain appears in the affected areas that, as time passes, the area worsens, even leading to a loss of sensitivity and the inability to move the affected limb.

Likewise, numbness and tingling appear in this area and even inflammation, the skin becoming pale and tight.

Chronic compartment syndrome due to exercise

It is common to find this condition in athletes who perform activities that involve repetition of physical activities.

The symptoms of chronic compartment syndrome They are, in general terms, very similar to those just mentioned. Its peculiarity is that the symptoms progressively worsen while these activities are carried out and the affected limb is involved.

This symptomatology can lead to loss of limbs or their functionality.

Diagnosis and treatment of compartment syndrome

When diagnosing compartment syndrome, it is necessary to rule out other causes of pain, since many pathologies present the same symptoms and can be confused with this one.

Using MRI, the structure of the muscles in the compartments can be evaluated, so that other possible causes of the symptoms you present are ruled out.

The most effective method for diagnosing compartment syndrome is to perform a measurement of pressure inside the compartment.

The 6P rule is frequently used for the clinical diagnosis of compartment syndrome: pain, pressure, lack of pulse, paleness, paralysis and paresthesia.

On the other hand, endoscopic fasciotomy is a surgical decompressive treatment performed with small incisions in the skin, whose objective is to reduce the pressure that exists in the compartment.

At the same time, to avoid worsening the condition, it is recommended to reduce sports activity or modify it if you have compartment syndrome. Therefore, it is important to carry out correct preparation prior to the start of the activity.

Likewise, it is advised avoid wearing calf sleeves, braces, or compression stockings, since these will cause greater compression in the area, so it may even become more acute. Additionally, you should avoid the use of anti-inflammatory creams, as well as taking oral anti-inflammatories.

The application of local cold can relieve the pain, but it is necessary to know that it is not recommended to abuse this. The sports physiotherapy It is also another of the most recommended treatments for compartment syndrome.

Now that you know everything about compartment syndrome, you will know that without timely treatment, compartment syndrome tends to worsen, even causing death in some cases. Therefore, if you think you suffer from any of the symptoms mentioned above, Make an appointment with our specialist traumatologists in Madrid and put an end to this pathology.