Compartment syndrome?

It may take several hours for acute compartment syndrome to develop. Within the muscle compartment, swelling and/or bleeding creates pressure on capillaries and nerves. When the pressure in the compartment exceeds the blood pressure within the capillaries, the capillaries collapse. This disrupts the blood flow to muscle and nerve cells. Without a steady supply of oxygen and nutrients, nerve and muscle cells begin to die within hours. Unless the pressure is relieved quickly, this can cause permanent disability or death.

A traumatic injury, such as a fracture of one of the long bones in the body, can often trigger acute compartment syndrome. If the injured limb continues to swell after a rigid cast or tight dressing is applied, a compartment syndrome may result. In that case, the cast or dressing will have to be split or removed as the first step to help alleviate the problem. Other conditions that can bring on acute compartment syndrome include:

• A severely bruised muscle, as when a motorcycle falls on the leg of the rider or a football player receives a strong blow to the thigh from another player's helmet
• A complication after surgery
• Blockage of circulation, such as from pressure over a blood vessel for too long while asleep
• A crush injury

Chronic compartment syndrome is characterized by pain and swelling caused by exercise. It can be a significant problem for an athlete. It gets better when you rest. It usually occurs in the leg. It is occasionally accompanied by numbness or difficulty in moving the foot. Symptoms dissipate quickly when activity stops. Compartment pressures may remain elevated for some time afterwards.