Substance-Related Found-Down Compartment Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Orthopedics
• Toxicology

Background:

• Found-down extremity compartment syndrome (FDECS) is a severe complication often linked to substance use.
• Characterizing the patient population, treatment, and outcomes is essential for improving clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and characterize patients with substance-related FDECS.
• To analyze treatment strategies and patient outcomes in this specific population.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched EMBASE, PubMed Publisher, and Cochrane Central databases for relevant English-language studies.
• Included 61 studies comprising 166 cases of substance-related FDECS, with data extracted and quality assessed.

Main Results:

• Substance-related FDECS primarily impacts young adults.
• A significant proportion of affected patients had pre-existing substance use disorders and/or psychiatric disorders.
• Prolonged immobilization is a key factor in presentation.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for FDECS in patients presenting after prolonged immobilization, especially those with a history of substance use or psychiatric conditions.
• Further research may elucidate optimal treatment pathways and prognostic factors.