Abstract
We present the case of a 43-year-old female patient who developed acute blistering and necrosis of the skin of the left upper limb following a routine cannulation. The case highlights the importance of early recognition of compartment syndrome in the non-trauma setting and also introduces the angiosome concept to explain why extensive degloving inevitably results in skin necrosis.
Highlights
Acute limb compartment syndrome (LCS) is a condition in which raised pressure within a closed fascial space reduces capillary perfusion below a level necessary for tissue viability [1]
It has been shown that an intracompartmental pressure (ICP) of 30 mmHg or more for 6-8 hours can cause irreversible changes to the fascial contents [3]
The following case report highlights the diagnostic challenges and potential complications associated with LCS, and introduces the concept of skin angiosomes [4,5]
Summary
Acute limb compartment syndrome (LCS) is a condition in which raised pressure within a closed fascial space reduces capillary perfusion below a level necessary for tissue viability [1]. Diagnosis is essential and clinicians should have a low index of suspicion of LCS in the acutely painful limb, even in the absence of a traumatic injury. The following case report highlights the diagnostic challenges and potential complications associated with LCS, and introduces the concept of skin angiosomes [4,5].
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