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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
A Novel Non-invasive Method for the Detection of Elevated Intra-compartmental Pressures of the Leg
Published on: May 31, 2019
Normal compartment pressures of the lower leg in children
J M Staudt1, M J C Smeulders, C M A M van der Horst
1Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, P. O. Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.m.staudt@amc.uva.nl
Insights
Healthy children have significantly higher lower leg compartment pressures than adults. This finding is crucial for clinical decision-making in pediatric patients, impacting diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric physiology
- Musculoskeletal research
Background:
- Compartment pressures in healthy children remain unstudied.
- Understanding normal pressures is vital for diagnosing conditions like compartment syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare lower leg compartment pressures in healthy children versus healthy adults.
- To establish baseline pressure values for pediatric lower leg compartments.
Main Methods:
- Simple needle manometry used to measure pressures in 80 lower leg compartments of 20 healthy children (2 months to 6 years).
- Measurements were compared with a control group of 20 healthy adults.
Main Results:
- Mean lower leg compartment pressure was significantly higher in children than adults (p < 0.001).
- Pediatric compartment pressures ranged from 13.3 to 16.6 mmHg, compared to 5.2 to 9.7 mmHg in adults.
- Mean arterial pressure showed no correlation with age or compartment pressure.
Conclusions:
- Normal lower leg compartment pressure in healthy children is substantially higher than in adults.
- These findings have significant implications for clinical decision-making in pediatric patients.
- Establishes new reference values for pediatric lower leg compartment pressures.
Abstract:
Compartment pressures have not previously been studied in healthy children. We compared the pressures in the four lower leg compartments of healthy children with those of healthy adults. We included patients aged between two months and six years, and measured the pressures in 80 compartments of 20 healthy children using simple needle manometry. Measurements were repeated in a control group of 20 healthy adults. The mean compartment pressure in the lower leg in children was significantly higher than in adults (p < 0.001). On average, pressures in the four compartments varied between 13.3 mmHg and 16.6 mmHg in the children and between 5.2 mmHg and 9.7 mmHg in the adults. The latter is in accordance with those recorded in the literature. The mean arterial pressure did not relate to age or to pressure in the compartment. The findings of this study that the normal compartment pressure of the lower leg in healthy children is significantly higher than that in adults may be of considerable significance in clinical decision-making in children of this age.
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