#Compartments of lower leg skin#

Compartment syndrome: the importance of early diagnosis.

But it can also impact other parts of the leg, as well as the feet, arms, hands, abdomen (belly) and buttocks. Compartment syndrome occurs most often in the lower leg. It can cause serious damage and possible death. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 21(5), 680-688 Compartment syndrome can limit the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients to muscles and nerves.

Acute compartment syndrome in children: Contemporary diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

as the cells die, the muscle can release various chemicals that can damage the kidneys.

fasciotomy may cause permanent scarring.

permanent muscle damage and reduced function in the affected limb.

In some cases, acute compartment syndrome and its treatment can lead to: This may help to restore a full range of motion and muscle strength. If surgery is undertaken, some people may need a course of physiotherapy to help with the recovery process. Here, a doctor makes a cut in the fascia to give the muscles room to swell. Surgery is also an option if all other treatments have failed. The mean compartment pressure in the lower leg in children was significantly higher than in adults (p < 0.001). People may also be advised to avoid the activity causing the problem. Measurements were repeated in a control group of 20 healthy adults.

Options to treat chronic compartment syndrome include physiotherapy, shoe inserts, and anti-inflammatory medications.

#Compartments of lower leg skin#

The procedure, called a fasciotomy, involves a surgeon cutting open the skin and the fascia to relieve the pressure. The only option to treat acute compartment syndrome is surgery. Share on Pinterest If compartment syndrome is suspected, patients should be directed to the emergency room.