Risk Factors And Causes Of Compartment Syndrome

Severely Bruised Muscle

If there are injuries to the bones or joints, the muscles they are attached to are very likely to be injured as well. One sign of a severely bruised muscle is a contusion or a bruise over the area. The area may start to swell immediately or may not start to swell for as long as forty-eight hours after the injury. The reason for the swelling is the blood collecting beneath the skin or in the bruised muscle. Eventually, a blood clot or hematoma forms at the injury site and a black and blue mark begins to take shape as the blood seeps into the surrounding tissue. The actual color may be more blue to purplish red, and the color changes over time to a sort of brownish-yellow. A large black and blue mark can mean serious blood loss and tissue damage and needs medical attention. It could lead to compartment syndrome if it's not treated.

Keep reading to discover how fractures can impact the possibility of compartment syndrome.

Fractures

There are different kinds of fractures, and nearly all of them can put the patient at risk for compartment syndrome. The fracture can be complete, which means the bone is broken through. They can be incomplete, meaning the bone has suffered a crack. An open fracture means the bone has penetrated the skin. The individual will feel an intense pain that doesn’t go away with rest, and their arm or leg may be deformed. There may be bleeding and bruising at the fracture site, and if the fracture is in a leg, the leg won’t be able to bear the individual's weight. If the person can’t feel the limb beneath the fracture or they feel tingling or numbness, it probably indicates nerve damage. This is a medical emergency.

Keep going for more information on the risk factors and causes of compartment syndrome now.