Fasciotomy and escharotomy in acute burns

Acute compartment syndrome accurse when rises within a confined space in the body, results in a critical reduction of the blood flow to the tissues contained within the space. Without urgent decompression, tissue ischemia, necrosis, and functional impairment occur. Burn accident spatial electrical and chemical burn is the second unexpended accident after driving accident and trauma. Compartment syndrome is consisted and elevation of the interstitial pressure in a closed osseofascial compartment results in microvascular compromise that mostly happens in the leg and forarm compartments. The alarm signs are: 1- Tightness, 2- Pain with passive motion, 3-Weakness of muscles and 4- Hyperesthesia or paresthesia. Diagnosis definitely is happened with intracompartmental pressure measurement by Wick catheter or Needle manometer method. If it will be more than 30 mmHg, prompt fasciotomy must be done. Delay in diagnosis may be due to inexperience and lack of awareness. So in this lecture, it will be explained about compartments in limbs and classical methods of fasciotomy and escharotomy.