The swelling had extended to his toes and his foot was hot to touch. Richard returned to the ED where on examination he screamed in pain. The nurse suspected compartment syndrome. He was started on intravenous antibiotics and underwent two additional debridement procedures to remove necrotic tissue. The wound was closed three days post injury.
Compartment syndrome is a relatively uncommon, yet dangerous, orthopedic problem.
An average hospital that treats some 6,000 patients annually will probably see just six to eight cases of compartment syndrome a year. Although this problem is somewhat rare, nurses should consider the possibility of its occurrence, especially in the two fairly typical locations it strikes. A supracondylar fracture of the humerus is often the etiological factor in upper extremity compartment syndromes. This is the most common cause of compartment syndrome in children. She is complaining of pain, warmth, and swelling in her elbow.