Open or complex tibial fractures are sometimes associated with which complication?

Open or complex tibial fractures are sometimes associated with which complication?

• A. Compartment syndrome
• B. Deep venous thrombosis
• C. Osteoarthritis
• D. Infection

Answer: (A)

Compartment syndrome is the main risk after open or complex tibial fractures because the leg’s tight, non.expandable compartments can quickly fill with blood and swollen tissue. The resulting intracomartment pressure can cut off blood flow, leading to muscle and nerve injury if not relieved promptly. Clinically, look for severe pain that’s out of proportion to exam and worsens with passive movement, tense swelling, and sometimes sensory changes; pulses may still be present early. If suspicion arises, measure the intracompartment pressures; a delta pressure (the difference between diastolic blood pressure and the compartment pressure) of about 30 mmHg or less usually requires urgent fasciotomy to decompress. While infection, deep vein thrombosis, and long-term osteoarthritis can occur with tibial fractures, they are not the immediate, limb-threatening complication most strongly linked to open or complex fractures, making compartment syndrome the most important association here.

Compartment syndrome is the main risk after open or complex tibial fractures because the leg’s tight, non.expandable compartments can quickly fill with blood and swollen tissue. The resulting intracomartment pressure can cut off blood flow, leading to muscle and nerve injury if not relieved promptly. Clinically, look for severe pain that’s out of proportion to exam and worsens with passive movement, tense swelling, and sometimes sensory changes; pulses may still be present early. If suspicion arises, measure the intracompartment pressures; a delta pressure (the difference between diastolic blood pressure and the compartment pressure) of about 30 mmHg or less usually requires urgent fasciotomy to decompress. While infection, deep vein thrombosis, and long-term osteoarthritis can occur with tibial fractures, they are not the immediate, limb-threatening complication most strongly linked to open or complex fractures, making compartment syndrome the most important association here.