J Korean Soc Surg Hand.  2015 Jun;20(2):59-63. 10.12790/jkssh.2015.20.2.59.

Idiopathic Compartment Syndrome of the Forearm

• Kim YJ
• Chung DW
• Kim JS

• KMID: 2194101
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12790/jkssh.2015.20.2.59

Abstract

Compartment syndrome is caused by elevated pressure in a restricted compartment. It typically occurs after fractures of the extremities and usually has an acute clinical progression. Chronic compartment syndrome is another relatively well known form, typically associated with forceful exercise. Also, there are various reports of compartment syndrome not associated with typical causes. However, reports on compartment syndrome with unknown etiology are rare and there has been none in Korean literature. We report a case of compartment syndrome with no recognizable cause, hence classified as idiopathic.

Keyword

Compartment syndrome; Upper extremity; Forearm; Idiopathic

MeSH Terms

Compartment Syndromes*
Extremities
Forearm*
Upper Extremity

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Sagittal T2-weighted fat supression (A), sagittal T1-weighted (B), axial T2-weighted fat supression (C), axial T1-weighted (D) magnetic resonance image of the patient. The fat suppressed T2-weighted magnetic resonance image demonstrating increased signal of flexor muscle groups especially involving deep layer of entire forearm with dorsal bulging of interosseous membrane between ulna and radius and T1-weighted image shows similar signal intensity to that of normal muscle.

Reference

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