Compartment pressure monitoring--current UK orthopaedic practice

Debate continues over the use of compartment pressure monitoring devices in the diagnosis of compartment syndrome. We present the results of a survey that was designed to explore this issue. The majority of UK trauma and orthopaedic surgeons surveyed advocate making the diagnosis of compartment syndrome by a combination of clinical acumen and compartment pressure measurements. Less than half of the trauma centres surveyed had pressure monitoring equipment available. There is marked variation in opinion regarding the threshold level for surgery when monitoring is applied.