Muscle microcirculatory impairment following acute compartment syndrome in the dog

Visualization of the intramuscular microcirculation during and after compartmental syndrome was studied by microangiograms and histologic cross sections. A marked reduction in the circulation of the endomysial capillary network was found during compartment tamponade, whereas the perimysium arteriolar system was patent. Revascularization took place by formation of distorted blood vessels accompanied by intramuscular hematomas in muscles 7 and 14 days after the compartment insult. The cross sections show massive fibroblastic activity around blood vessels that caused concealed intramuscular pressure-ischemic contracture resulting in the foci of myofibrillar necrosis seen within normal muscle tissue. The muscle located in the tamponaded compartment profusely bleeds when it is touched, even though its viability is in doubt. The explanation for this clinical observation might be the abnormal intramuscular revascularization that was found in this work.