An 84-year-old woman is brought by ambulance to the emergency department after she was found...

This patient presents with signs of acute compartment syndrome (pain out of proportion, paresthesia, pallor, swelling, decreased pulses, and dark urine indicating rhabdomyolysis). Measuring compartment pressures is the diagnostic test of choice to confirm the diagnosis and guide urgent surgical fasciotomy.

Toronto Notes 2023 – Orthopedics:

“Acute compartment syndrome should be suspected in any patient with severe extremity pain, swelling, sensory deficits, and tense compartments. Confirm with compartment pressure measurements. Fasciotomy is indicated if pressure is > 30 mmHg or within 30 mmHg of diastolic pressure.”

MCCQE1 Objectives (Surgery > 51-2: Limb Trauma):

“Candidates must diagnose acute compartment syndrome and initiate appropriate surgical referral after confirming with pressure measurements.”

Angiography and Doppler studies assess vascular compromise but are not the first step in suspected compartment syndrome. Fixing the hip (C) and testing myoglobin (E) are not diagnostic steps.

====================================================