[Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the compartment syndrome]

Early diagnosis of compartmental syndromes after trauma and surgery can be made from clinical symptoms and signs in most cases. These include burning, deep-seated pain, weakness and pain on passive stretch of the compartment muscles, hypo-esthesia in the area of peripheral nerves, swelling and tense fascial boundaries. Clinical examination should be performed at frequent intervals, with the limb free from all dressings and placed at heart level. In high risk cases with severe soft tissue trauma, multiple trauma or ventilator treatment, intracompartmental pressure is measured by methods of Whitesides or Matsen, which indicate fasciotomy at pressures above 40 mm Hg. From 1975 to 1982, 96 compartmental syndromes were treated, with early diagnosis in 71.