Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Compartment Syndrome report of three cases

摘要

Acute compartment syndrome in an extremity is a limb-threatening surgical emergency. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has rarely been performed to establish the diagnosis of this condition. We report 3 cases of compartment syndrome of the lower extremities, one in the acute stage and two in chronic stages. All three patients were involved traffic accidents with unilateral lower limb fractures. No significant past medical history or other causes of myopathy was present in any of the three cases. The patient with an acute compartment syndrome was diagnosed with the condition based on clinical information. MRI performed one-month following fasciotomy for suspected myonecrosis revealed muscular swelling, edema, interstitial hemorrhage, and myonecrosis. Muscular necrosis was confirmed by subsequent surgical debridement. The other two subjects with chronic conditions had histories of lower limb fractures. One suffered from ankle deformity and the other, erythematous painful swelling in the leg. MRI demonstrated localized fibrosis and muscular atrophy in both cases as well as superimposed cellulitis in the second case. The myopathies in both cases were confined in the leg corresponding to previous fracture. The myopathies are contributed to neglected compartment syndrome without prompt fasciotomy 2 and 20 years ago, respectively.