Acute compartment syndrome of the dorsal forearm following noncontact injury

Abstract

Acute compartment syndrome is a limb-threatening condition in which early diagnosis and surgical consultation for fasciotomy are required to preserve functional outcome. The diagnosis is typically considered in patients with traumatic mechanisms of injury such as a direct blow and crush to the compartment, particularly when there is a fracture in the same compartment. We report the case of a patient with acute compartment syndrome of the dorsal forearm that occurred as a result of an atypical noncontact traumatic mechanism. Establishing the diagnosis of compartment syndrome was complicated in this patient, as some of the signs and symptoms of acute compartment syndrome could have been attributed to the presence of a coexisting rupture of the extensor digitorum muscle. This report serves to remind emergency physicians that, although rare, acute compartment syndrome can result from exertional and noncontact traumatic mechanisms.