Compartmentsyndrome Causes

Overview

Any internal or external event that increases pressure within a compartment can cause compartment syndrome. Thus, increased fluid content or decreased compartment size can lead to the condition.

Causes

Increased fluid content can be caused by the following:

• Hemorrhage (commonly due to the Fractures or gunshot wounds. specifically from a large vessel injury) 
• Surgery
• Intensive muscle use (eg, tetany, vigorous exercise, seizures) 
• Everyday exercise activities (eg, stationary bicycle use, horseback riding)
• Burns
• Envenomation
• Decreased serum osmolarity (eg, nephrotic syndrome)
• Postischemic swelling
• Drug/alcohol abuse and coma
• Rhabdomyolysis 
• Gastrocnemius or peroneus muscle tear (lower extremity)
• Ruptured Baker cyst
• Influenza myositis 
• Autoimmune vasculitis
• Androgen abuse/muscle hypertrophy
• Deep venous thrombosis 
• hemorrhage (due to the Fractures or gunshot wounds)
• Upper extremity fractures

Iatrogenic causes

Iatrogenic causes of compartment syndrome include the following:

• Military antishock trousers 
• Tight splints, casts, dressings 
• Lithotomy position (lower extremity cases) 
• Malfunctioning sequential compression devices
• Intramuscular, intra-arterial, or intracompartmental injection 
• Intraosseous infusion
• Massive hypertonic IV fluid infusion
• Pressurized intravenous (IV) infusion of parenteral hypertonic contrast agent
• Attempts at cannulating veins and arteries of the arm in patients on systemic anticoagulants or patients treated with thrombolytic drugs
• Intraoperative use of a pressurized pulsatile irrigation system
• Use of a pump for infusion of fluids into the joint during an arthroscopic procedure
• Chemotherapy drugs