Aftercare

Most patients with acute compartment syndrome are immobilized and confined to bed due to their original injuries (which, for example, occurred in an accident and led to compartment syndrome, broken bones, etc.). Other measures after a fasciotomy are elevation of the operated limb to promote swelling of the tissue. If the compartment syndrome operation was performed on an outpatient basis, as is possible in the case of chronic compartment syndrome, an elastic bandage helps to close the wound quickly and reduce bruising.

Exercise is allowed after an outpatient procedure, although walking sticks may still be useful. Light stretching and movement exercises may also be performed immediately after the operation. The healing process is usually completed after about two weeks.

At this time, mild symptoms may still occur, but these should gradually decrease over time. The build-up of physical activity, as it was done before the compartment syndrome, can be started slowly. In the treatment of acute compartment syndrome, there is initially no sensible alternative to emergency surgical pressure relief of the affected musculature.

Once the procedure has been completed and the wounds have healed, physiotherapy can help to rebuild the damaged musculature and regain normal range of motion. In cases of severe muscle damage, physiotherapy started early on can help to counteract the occurrence of malpositions and stiffening. Often good results can be achieved, but in some cases a malposition can no longer be prevented. Whether and to what extent physiotherapy is necessary and appropriate after a compartment syndrome will be decided by the treating physician in consultation with the patient.

Duration

How long a compartment syndrome lasts depends both on the cause and the time of the start of treatment. A chronic compartment syndrome of the legs, which manifests itself through pain during physical exertion and improvement at rest, can improve within a few weeks with continuous training and regular recovery breaks. In some cases, however, it can persist for a long time.

In the case of an acutely occurring compartment syndrome, for example after an accident, the duration depends largely on how quickly the clinical picture is recognized and treated. By prompt surgical splitting of the affected compartment, pressure relief is achieved immediately and the squeezed tissue can regenerate without consequences in most cases. However, if the compartment syndrome is treated only after several hours or even days, the healing process can be much longer and, if necessary, permanent damage such as muscle atrophy and malpositioning of the toes or fingers can occur.