J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2021 Mar;25(1):46-49. 10.14193/jkfas.2021.25.1.46.

Delayed Treatment of Foot Compartment Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review

• Jang J
• Choi Y

• KMID: 2513653
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2021.25.1.46

Abstract

Acute compartment syndrome occurs when pressure increases within closed compartments due to injuries causing soft tissue damage. Delayed treatment can lead to undesirable consequences. This paper reports a three-year-old patient in whom a fasciotomy was performed successfully despite the potential side effects. Fasciotomy may be considered when the diagnosis and clinical symptoms of delayed compartment syndrome are clear. This study determined that the three-year-old patient would undergo a relatively smooth recovery compared to elderly patients of advanced age. Because the dorsalis pedis artery pulse was palpable, an emergency surgical treatment was performed to restore the damaged tissues and prevent further necrosis. The patient has shown a satisfactory recovery.

Keyword

Foot; Compartment syndrome; Fasciotomy; Pediatrics; Wounds and injuries

Figure

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  Figure. 1 Photographs show swelling and bullae of the left foot in the day of trauma (A) and the day after (B).

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  Figure. 2 The axial view (A) and the sagittal view (B) of computed tomography scan show fracture of the sustentaculum tali in the calcaneus (arrows).

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  Figure. 3 The medial side (A) and the dorsal side (B) of intraoperative photographs show the left foot in which fasciotomy was done using dorsal and medial plantar approaches.

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  Figure. 4 The lateral side (A) and the medial side (B) of the left foot showing swelling, bullae 5 days after trauma.

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  Figure. 5 The medial side (A) and the lateral side (B) of follow-up photographs show the left foot on 12 days after operation.

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  Figure. 6 The dorsal side (A), the medial side (B) and the lateral side (C) of follow-up photographs show the left foot at 58 days after operation.

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