Abstract
The muscles of the lower and upper limb are enclosed in a rigid fascial envelope. If circulation is restored after a period of acute ischaemia, there is a tendency for increased capillary permeability which results in a transudation of fluid from the capillaries into the postischaemic muscle with a rise in extracellular pressure. This is reflected by a rise in pressure in the whole deep compartment, which may impair the circulation and cause muscle necrosis1. Fasciotomy must therefore be considered after any restoration of circulation in acute and severe ischaemia, particularly if that ischaemia was associated with motor or sensory loss. The classical signs of muscle necrosis (contractures, induration and erythema of the overlying skin) develop only after irreversible muscle damage has taken place and are therefore not indications for fasciotomy.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Parent NF, Bernhard VM. Acute ischaemia. In: Bell PRF, Jamieson CW, Ruckley CV, eds. Surgical Management of Vascular Disease. London: Saunders, 1992: 427–8.
Kelly RP, Whitesides TE Transfibular route for fasciotomy of the leg. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 1967; 49-A: 1022–3.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Jamieson, C.W. (1994). Fasciotomy. In: Jamieson, C.W., Yao, J.S.T. (eds) Vascular Surgery. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6854-8_37
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6854-8_37
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-412-58630-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-6854-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive