Compartment syndrome in infants and toddlers. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Broom, Alexander; Schur, Mathew D.; Arkader, Alexandre; Flynn, John; Gornitzky, Alex; Choi, Paul D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of children's orthopaedics. Volume 10:Number 5(2016)
• Page Start: 453
• Page End: 460
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Compartment syndrome -- Fasciotomy -- Infection -- IV infiltration -- Pediatric; Pediatric orthopedics -- Periodicals; 618.927005
• DOI: 10.1007/s11832-016-0766-0
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-2521

Abstract

Purpose: To study the cause, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of acute compartment syndrome in infants and toddlers aged <3 years. Methods: Fifteen patients aged <3 years with acute compartment syndrome were identified from two large pediatric trauma centers over a fifteen-year period. All children underwent fasciotomy. The mechanism of injury, time of injury, time to diagnosis, compartment pressures, time to fasciotomy, and outcome at the time of the latest follow-up were recorded. Results: Nine (60 %) of fifteen patients developed compartment syndrome secondary to trauma, four (4/15, 27 %) due to infection, and two (2/15, 13 %) due to intravenous infiltration. The average time from injury or hospital admission to fasciotomy was 31.8 h (range 2.9–136.3 h). In general, the functional outcome was excellent at the latest follow-up with thirteen (13/15, 87 %) patients having an excellent outcome. No cases of Volkmann's ischemia were noted at the time of fasciotomy, even when performed as late as 5 days after injury. Conclusions: Compared to the general pediatric population, the diagnosis of compartment syndrome in infants and toddlers may be further delayed, i.e., >24 h after injury. Despite delays in diagnosis and time to treatment, the present study shows that outcomes in infants and toddlers remain favorable even when fasciotomy is performed 48–72 h after injury. Level of evidence: Case series, level IV.