Acute volar compartment syndrome during skeletal traction in distal radius fracture. A case report

Fractures of the distal end of the radius rarely cause acute compartment syndrome of the forearm. Acute compartment syndrome of the forearm occurred after a fracture of the distal end of the radius in a 17-year-old boy who developed symptoms after application of skeletal traction. Satisfactory recovery was obtained by early decompressive fasciotomy. In this case a combination of traction and elevation of the forearm appeared to have increased the susceptibility of the limb to acute compartment syndrome.