If not remedied in time, the lack of blood supply irreversibly damages the muscles, nerves and bones in the compartment and this phenomenon is called “Compartment syndrome”. This sets off a vicious circle, progressively increasing the pressure to the point where even major blood vessels become compressed, interrupting the blood supply further. The result is a decreased oxygen supply to the body cells which, in desperate need of oxygen, release chemicals that further increase the leakage of fluid from the vessels, and thus the intra-compartmental pressure rises. When the pressure reaches a significant level, capillaries (the smallest blood vessels) are forced shut. In the anterior and posterior compartments of the leg, there is almost no space to accommodate any extra fluid, and therefore pressure increases rapidly, pressing upon the structures in the compartment, including the blood vessels. If the volume increases in a compartment, there is no space to expand and the structures within begin compressing. Infection, toxins (snake bite), excessive exertion: the body defends itself through inflammation, which increases fluid leakage from vessels into the tissues, leading to tissue swelling => volume increaseĪny physical obstruction to the outflow of blood such as tight bandages, casts, etc., leads to pooling of blood in the compartment => volume increases This can occur as a result of:Ī severe injury (muscle rupture or bone fracture): blood leaking out from vessels into the tissues => volume increase Things work well when everything is in harmony, arteries take blood in and veins drain the used blood out, maintaining a constant volume of the fascial compartment,Ĭompartment syndrome starts when the fluid level in the compartment increases.
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