Korean J Anesthesiol.  2010 Jul;59(1):53-55. 10.4097/kjae.2010.59.1.53.

Acute compartment syndrome of the forearm and hand in a patient of spine surgery: A case report

• Lee JA
• Jeon YS
• Jung HS
• Kim HG
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2236489
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2010.59.1.53

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman underwent a 4-hour operation in the prone position for a laminectomy at C4-7 and posterior cervical decompressive fusion at C7-T1 under general anesthesia. After undraping at the end of surgery, considerable swelling with many blisters of the left forearm and hand was observed. The chest roll at the left side had moved cephalad into the axilla and compressed the axillary structures. An emergency fasciotomy to decompress the compartments of the forearm and dorsal surface of the hand was performed. In the post anesthesia care unit, the radial pulse of the left hand was palpable and the level of oxygen saturation was normal. Forearm and hand edema subsided gradually over several days and the patient was discharged with full function of her left arm. This compartment syndrome suggests careful attention should be paid to the position of the chest roll when the prone position is established for a long duration.

Keyword

Axilla; Compartment syndrome; Prone position

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, General
Arm
Axilla
Blister
Compartment Syndromes
Edema
Emergencies
Female
Forearm
Hand
Humans
Laminectomy
Oxygen
Prone Position
Spine
Thorax
Oxygen