Spontaneous compartment syndrome of the forearm - case report

Acute compartment syndrome is a serious complication of trauma and pathological disorders. Non-traumatic acute compartment syndrome is very rare and has no coherence with trauma. The case report demonstrates diagnostics difficulties and the treatment strategy.

We present a 36-year-old man with acute onset of pain after manual labor with a shovel. He had been treated with anticoagulation therapy due to a heart valve replacement. Blood clotting test showed prolongation of prothrombin time of more than four times due to iatrogenic bleeding disorder. Symptoms were considered consistent with the diagnosis of tendovaginitis, however the worsening of the symptoms was underestimated. Four days after the onset of the first symptoms, the acute compartment syndrome developed and urgent fasciotomy of the forearm and hand was performed. The convalescence lasted 10 months with restoration of the function and range of motion of the hand. The patient was able to fully self-service and manually work with a light load. The permanent consequence remained a limitation of the hand grip strength and paresthesia and neuropathic pain due to median nerve impairment.

Spontaneous compartment syndrome of the upper extremity is a rare but very dangerous entity requiring thorough understanding. It should be considered in the case of non-traumatic limb pain that does not respond to analgesics in patients receiving systemic anticoagulation. Only early diagnosis and immediate fasciotomy can prevent catastrophic permanent consequences.