Compartmentsyndrome Causes
Overview
Any internal or external event that increases pressure within a compartment can cause compartment syndrome. Thus, increased fluid content or decreased compartment size can lead to the condition.
Causes
Increased fluid content can be caused by the following:
- Hemorrhage (commonly due to the Fractures or gunshot wounds. specifically from a large vessel injury)
- Surgery
- Intensive muscle use (eg, tetany, vigorous exercise, seizures)
- Everyday exercise activities (eg, stationary bicycle use, horseback riding)
- Burns
- Envenomation
- Decreased serum osmolarity (eg, nephrotic syndrome)
- Postischemic swelling
- Drug/alcohol abuse and coma
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Gastrocnemius or peroneus muscle tear (lower extremity)
- Ruptured Baker cyst
- Influenza myositis
- Autoimmune vasculitis
- Androgen abuse/muscle hypertrophy
- Deep venous thrombosis
- hemorrhage (due to the Fractures or gunshot wounds)
- Upper extremity fractures
Iatrogenic causes
Iatrogenic causes of compartment syndrome include the following:
- Military antishock trousers
- Tight splints, casts, dressings
- Lithotomy position (lower extremity cases)
- Malfunctioning sequential compression devices
- Intramuscular, intra-arterial, or intracompartmental injection
- Intraosseous infusion
- Massive hypertonic IV fluid infusion
- Pressurized intravenous (IV) infusion of parenteral hypertonic contrast agent
- Attempts at cannulating veins and arteries of the arm in patients on systemic anticoagulants or patients treated with thrombolytic drugs
- Intraoperative use of a pressurized pulsatile irrigation system
- Use of a pump for infusion of fluids into the joint during an arthroscopic procedure
- Chemotherapy drugs