INTRACOMPARTMENTAL SEPSIS IN BURN PATIENTS

An uncommon cause of sepsis in patients with large burns is occult int racompartmental infection. A multi-institution review of 1171 burn adm issions identified 5 patients (0.4%) who developed intracompartmental sepsis presenting with fever and purulent drainage or fever, erythema, and swelling on clinical examination. Contributing factors may have i ncluded high-volume resuscitation, delayed escharotomy, extravasated i ntraosseous infusion, cannulation-related arterial injury, and splinti ng or positioning difficulties. A high index of suspicion and an aggre ssive surgical approach facilitate successful management of this unusu al problem.