ACUTE COMPARTMENT SYNDROME IN TIBIAL DIAPHYSEAL FRACTURES

We reviewed 25 patients with tibial diaphyseal fractures which had bee n complicated by an acute compartment syndrome, Thirteen had undergone continuous monitoring of the compartment pressure and the other 12 ha d not, The average delay from injury to fasciotomy in the monitored gr oup was 16 hours and in the non-monitored group 32 hours (p < 0.05), O f the 12 surviving patients in the monitored group, none had any seque lae of acute compartment syndrome at final review at an average of 10. 5 months, Of the 11 surviving patients in the non-monitored group, ten had definite sequelae with muscle weakness and contractures (p < 0.01 ), There was also a significant delay in tibial union in the non-monit ored group (p < 0.05). We recommend that, when equipment is available, all patients with tibial fractures should have continuous compartment monitoring to minimise the incidence of acute compartment syndrome.