Fracture of the tibia complicated by acute compartment syndrome

A consecutive series of 32 patients with tibia fractures complicated by compartment syndrome was treated with fasciotomy. One group was also treated with closed reduction of the fracture and cast immobilization and compared with a comparable group treated with internal fixation without case immobilization after fasciotomy. All other patients were treated with fasciotomy and reduction followed with either external skeletal fixation, pins and plaster, or skeletal traction. Care of the open fasciotomy incisions, observation of the neurovascular status of the limb, and rehabilitation of the extremity were facilitated by internal fixation operations without subsequent external cast immobilization. The anatomic and functional results in this group were better than those treated with fasciotomy and cast immobilization. All fractures were united by 20 weeks. Complications in both groups were similar, although one deep infection, which was resolved with appropriate treatment, occurred in the group treated with internal fixation. Six open tibia fractures were treated with external skeletal fixation after fasciotomy; the results were less satisfactory, but the initial injuries were also more severe in this group. Patients with closed tibial fractures complicated by compartment syndromes should be treated expeditiously with fasciotomy, followed by stable internal fixation.