COMPARTMENT SYNDROME AFTER INTRAOSSEOUS INFUSION - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN DOGS

An experimental study was designed to investigate the development of c ompartment syndrome with the use of an intraosseous line in dogs. We u sed an open technique for insertion of a 20-gauge spinal needle to the tibia. The needle was secured to the tibia with bone cement. Througho ut the intraosseous infusion of saline with radio-opaque dye (rate, 48 0 mL/h), serial radiographic examination and pressure monitoring of th e anterolateral compartment of the leg was performed. Although there w as no change up to approximately 350 mL of fluid infusion, the radio-o paque dye was detected in the soft tissues and compartment pressure in creased to more than 35 mm Hg. Compartment pressure continued to incre ase in direct proportion to the amount of dye infused. In the present study, the possible technical errors, which may cause compartment synd rome. have been eliminated. However, compartment syndrome developed be cause of the failure of microvasculature within a muscle adjacent to b one. We suggest that there is a need for a dose- and time-dependent sc ala for safe intraosseous infusion. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunder s Company.