Meet the editor

Saqeb Mirza is trauma and orthopedic surgeon currently working at the University Hospital of Wales. His specialist interests are major trauma, foot and ankle, and limb reconstruction. He takes an active interest in research and has authored a number of papers and book chapters in trauma and orthopedic surgery. He also holds an MSc from University College London with a dissertation on the effects of tensile forces on mesenchymal stem cells.

He enjoys teaching and training and holds a postgraduate certificate in medical education and a fellowship from the Higher Education Academy, UK. He is an ATLS instructor and holds the FRCS (Tr & Orth), FEBOT and Dip SICOT qualifications.

Khaled Elawady is trauma and orthopedic surgeon currently working at the University Hospital of Oxford. His specialist interests are major trauma, pediatric orthopedics and limb reconstruction. He takes an active interest in research and has authored a number of papers and book chapters in trauma and orthopedic surgery. He also holds a Ph.D. and MSc from the University of Cairo. His Ph.D. dissertation was on the congenital

absence of leg bones. He enjoys teaching and training and holds a Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) in trauma and orthopedics as well as a Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) England.

Contents

**Section 1**

**Section 2**

**Section 3**

**Section 4**

**Section 5**

*and Salim Surani*

*by Abdulaziz Shaher*

Review of Compartment Syndrome *by Khaled Elawady and Saqeb Beig Mirza*

Hand Compartment Syndrome

Thoracoabdominal Compartment Syndrome

*by Kuo-Ching Yuan, Chih-Yuan Fu and Hung-Chang Huang*

Non-Invasive Diagnostics in Acute Compartment Syndrome *by Richard Martin Sellei, Philipp Kobbe and Frank Hildebrand*

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome among Medical Patients

*by Kejal Gandhi, Pahnwat Taweesedt, Munish Sharma, Dweep Barbhaya* 

Abdominal Compartment Syndrome

**Preface XI**

Introduction **1**

**Chapter 1 3**

Compartment Syndrome in Musculoskeletal Sites **15**

**Chapter 2 17**

Compartment Syndrome in Extramusculoskeletal Sites **31**

**Chapter 3 33**

**Chapter 4 41**

Diagnosis of Compartment Syndrome **53**

**Chapter 5 55**

Compartment Syndrome in Special Situations **69**

**Chapter 6 71**

*by Ioannis M. Stavrakakis, George E. Magarakis and Theodoros H. Tosounidis*

## Contents


#### **Chapter 7 87**

Compartment Syndrome Related to Patient Positioning in the Surgical Treatment of Urolithiasis *by Inés Laso-García, Fernando Arias-Fúnez, Gemma Duque-Ruiz, David Díaz-Pérez, Alberto Artiles-Medina and Javier Burgos-Revilla*

Preface

Compartment syndrome is a condition that can be both limb-threatening as well as life-threatening. It often develops in limbs that have been subjected to major trauma, including open injuries. It can develop in any closed osteofascial compartment and its consequences can be devastating to the individual affected.

This book provides a brief synopsis of this very important condition. The first chapter provides an overview of the musculoskeletal compartment syndrome. A section on the musculoskeletal system describes the etiology and pathogenesis of compartment syndrome in detail and looks at the vicious downward spiral that occurs if the condition goes unrecognized, leading to irreversible muscle damage and necrosis. In addition, it looks at the various anatomical sites in the musculoskeletal system in which this condition occurs, acknowledging the need for timely diagnosis. The section also illustrates the various anatomical approaches for decompression of compartments at each site, including the hand

Compartment syndrome can affect sites other than limbs, with equally devastating complications. The third section discusses these sites, including the thorax and abdomen. It describes the etiologies of the syndrome in these sites, which are many and varied, and provides suggestions for the diagnosis and management of

The fourth section covers the diagnosis of compartment syndrome, which can be challenging. If compartment syndrome is suspected, prompt decompression is generally advocated to save the structures involved from irreversible damage and consequences that may have a significantly negative impact on the patient's life. There are, however, certain situations where compartment pressure monitoring may be useful, for example, in unconscious or ventilated patients. This section describes various methods of compartment pressure monitoring along with their advantages and drawbacks. It also discusses newer methods of diagnosis. However, the current gold standard is still timely clinical examination, a high index of

The fifth section describes the occurrence of compartment syndrome in special situations. Some of these situations include compartment syndrome in medical patients, those related to patient positioning, and bleeding into compartments in

Compartment syndrome remains a condition that can have significant negative consequences for patients if not diagnosed on time. A high index of suspicion is necessary for its diagnosis and time-critical intervention may prevent significant

and foot.

abdominal compartment syndrome.

suspicion, and prompt surgical decompression.

morbidity associated with this condition.

bleeding disorders.
