Compartment syndrome

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Wrist anatomy

The hallmark symptom of compartment syndrome is severe pain that does not go away when you take pain medicine or raise the affected area. In more severe cases, symptoms may include:

• Decreased sensation
• Paleness of skin
• Severe pain that gets worse
• Weakness

A physical exam will reveal:

• Pain when the compartment is squeezed
• Severe pain when you move the affected area (for example, a person with compartment syndrome in the foot or lower leg will experience severe pain when moving the toes up and down)
• Swollen and shiny skin

To confirm the diagosis, the health care provider will directly measure the pressure in the compartment. This is done using a needle attached to a pressure meter into the compartment. The needle is inserted into the affected area. Specific pressure measurements will lead to a diagnosis of compartment syndrome.

When the health care provider suspects chronic compartment syndrome, this test must be performed during and after the activity that causes pain.

Review Date: 07/28/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Unviersity of Washington School of Medicine; and C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Assistant Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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