Sheets of connective tissue called fascia are located under the skin of the arms and legs. These wrap around groups of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels to create a unit called a compartment. When pressure builds up in these enclosed spaces, it is redirected into the compartment. When pressure reaches a certain point, it disrupts blood flow. Blood vessels may fail and tissue dies. Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) can affect the arms, hands, legs, feet, and buttocks.
Common causes include:
Factors that may increase your chance of ACS include:
ACS may cause:
Symptoms can develop within 30 minutes to 2 hours. In other cases, it may take days.
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.
Your bodily fluids will be tested. This can be done with blood tests.
Imaging tests to evaluate bodily structures may include:
The pressure inside your compartments will be measured. This can be done with:
ACS is a medical emergency. Call for emergency medical services right away. Damage can result in serious injury or even death.
Surgery to relieve pressure, called fasciotomy, must be done right away to prevent permanent damage. The doctor makes a long cut into the fascia to open the envelope of tissue and relieve pressure.
ACS is difficult to prevent because there are many causes. But there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of injury, such as: