Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Knee Lipohemarthrosis

When treating patients presenting with knee trauma or intra-articular fracture, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for lipohemarthrosis. Diagnosis of lipohemarthrosis can be accomplished via visualization of a fat-fluid level. Increased fluid and pressure build-up within the joint space may lead to compartment syndrome, which requires emergency compartment fasciotomy. In this paper, we discuss the importance of identifying lipohemarthrosis in patients presenting with intra-articular fracture, as well as the necessity of frequent patient re-evaluations in order to monitor the onset of compartment syndrome.