Can skin surface pressure under a cast reveal intracompartmental pressure?

Although monitoring: intracompartmental pressure (IP) under a cast is very important, it is not possible to measure it in every patient undergoing cas t treatment. This study aims to answer the question of whether skin surface pressure (SSP) under a cast can reveal IP. A plaster cast was applied to a sculpted inflatable forearm model with dorsal and volar compartments. SSP under the cast was measured at five different localizations from both dorsa l and volar sides of the model and compared to the corresponding IP. In the second experiment, a posterior tibial compartment syndrome model was creat ed in both limbs of five rabbits. Correlation analysis was performed betwee n IP and SSP under the cast. All of the SSP measurements taken from the dor sal and volar side of the sculpted forearm model correlated with IP. Mean c orrelation coefficient of the measurements was 0.995 (P = 0.000) (SD 0.002, range 0.992-0.999). SSP and IP correlation analysis in the posterior tibia l compartment syndrome model of 10 limbs in five rabbits revealed a high co rrelation. The mean correlation coefficient was 0.973 (P = 0.000) (SD 0.024 , range 0.916-0.997). Measuring the pressure between the skin and cast can monitor IP. SSP monitoring can help the physician, patient or parents in th e follow-up of patients undergoing cast treatment.