A Case of Acute Atraumatic Compartment Syndrome of the Thigh

Publication date: Available online 16 July 2016
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Alexander Gutfraynd, Sheila Philpott
BackgroundIn the absence of trauma, compartment syndrome of the thigh is rare. Several case reports have described compartment syndrome in the presence of trauma, comorbid medical conditions, and acute muscle overuse. Very few reports have demonstrated an acute onset of atraumatic thigh compartment syndrome.Case ReportA 24-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a painful and swollen left thigh immediately after a night of dancing at a concert. He was found to have an elevated intracompartmental quadriceps pressure of 45 mm Hg in the ED, which led to his transfer to the operating room for an emergent fasciotomy.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Although acute, atraumatic compartment syndrome of the thigh is a rare entity, failure to diagnose it promptly can lead to muscle necrosis, permanent neurologic deficits, and amputation.



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