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Unusual development of acute compartment syndrome caused by a suction injury: a case report
M Tachi1, S Hirabayashi, E Kuroda
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Acute compartment syndrome can occur from suction injuries. This case details a 68-year-old man who recovered after emergency fasciotomies for forearm compartment syndrome caused by an exhaust port injury.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a surgical emergency.
- Suction injuries are increasingly reported as a cause of ACS, particularly in children.
- The forearm is a common site for ACS.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old male patient presented with ACS of the forearm.
- The injury mechanism involved the patient's arm being sucked into an exhaust port.
- This mechanism is unusual for ACS, especially in adults.
Findings:
- Emergency fasciotomies were performed to decompress the forearm.
- The wound was surgically closed five days post-fasciotomy.
- A small skin graft was utilized for wound closure.
- The patient experienced an uneventful recovery.
Implications:
- Exhaust port injuries can lead to severe complications like ACS.
- Prompt surgical intervention (fasciotomy) is crucial for managing ACS.
- This case expands the known mechanisms of suction-induced ACS.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are key to favorable outcomes in ACS.
Abstract:
There have been recent reports of acute compartment syndrome secondary to suction injuries of the hands of children. We report the case of a 68-year-old patient who developed an acute compartment syndrome of the forearm after his arm had been sucked into an exhaust port. He was treated by emergency fasciotomies and the wound was closed five days later with a small skin graft. His recovery was uneventful.