Case challenge · Orthopedics / Trauma / Emergency · teaching

Acute Compartment Syndrome Pathway · case challenge

Given a case, work through the care pathway step by step; the tool checks each choice and scores you. Decisions and basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways.

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Case #1Orthopedics / Trauma / Emergency

📋 Case data

Do clinical signs support itSuspicious, currently uncertain

Data is taken from this pathway's reviewed node text. Work through the pathway step by step.

Step 1 / 1 · Do clinical signs support it

Do the clinical signs support compartment syndrome?

💡 Raised pressure in a closed compartment causing ischemic necrosis, a surgical emergency (tibial fracture most common; also reperfusion/crush/tight cast/burns). Clinical diagnosis: pain out of proportion to the injury (earliest), pain on passive stretch (most reliable early sign), tense woody swelling, paresthesia; pallor/pulselessness/paralysis are late irreversible signs, do not wait. If uncertain/comatose, measure pressure: compartment pressure >30 mmHg or delta pressure (diastolic BP minus compartment pressure) ≤30 mmHg.

For teaching. Decisions and their basis are taken from this site's reviewed care pathways; for licensed clinicians/trainees, this does not replace clinical judgment or local protocols.