- Helping Victims of Compartment Syndrome
- How Compartment Syndrome Develops
- The Symptoms of Compartment Syndrome
- Compartment Syndrome and the Long-Term Impacts
- Filing a Claim for a Catastrophic Injury
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Helping Victims of Compartment Syndrome
We have compartments, or groups of nerves, muscles, and blood vessels, in our arms and legs. These compartments are covered by a layer of fascia, which is made up of a rigid, tough membrane. This membrane helps provide our body with support and shape, and so it is not meant to move or expand easily. Compartment syndrome is when pressure is constantly applied to the fascia, either because it is being squeezed too tightly or because the muscle is swollen, which then cuts off the blood flow to and from the impacted limb.
Compartment syndrome is considered a medical emergency and can have a lasting impact on your life. The personal injury attorneys at Aghabegian Law Group, P.C. have worked with clients who’ve had dealt with a variety of lasting, and often painful, injuries. These injuries often follow a traumatic accident, such as a traffic collision, and can be attributed to the actions of a careless or reckless individual. If you or a loved one suffered from compartment syndrome due to an act of negligence, you may be eligible for a personal injury claim against their insurance policy.
Get the representation you need after a catastrophic injury and contact our firm at (818) 350-HURT (350-4878).
How Compartment Syndrome Develops
The syndrome will usually develop due to bleeding or swelling within the compartment. Fascia does not stretch, so when a muscle begins to swell it will hit up against the fascia and have no room to expand, causing blood flow to be restricted or completely cut off. In order for the swelling to begin, the muscle usually needs to be damaged in some way. Common causes of this damage are:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and falls
- Overly tight bandages or casts
Most causes of compartment syndrome involve a level of negligence. A car accident with a distracted driver, for example, can result in a broken femur that later develops compartment syndrome. The syndrome does not show symptoms right away though, so even if you think you have received all the medical assistance you need to recover, you may discover in a week or two that you are far more injured than you previously believed.
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The Symptoms of Compartment Syndrome
Because compartment syndrome takes time to develop, you may not realize you’re suffering from it right away, especially if you have sustained other injuries to the impacted limb. You may assume that your symptoms are just your old injuries acting up again. However, compartment syndrome is a medical emergency and can lead to long lasting disabilities if not treated immediately, so it is incredibly important to know the symptoms.
The most common ones include:
- Intense pain in the impacted limb
- A tingling or burning sensation in the limb
- The muscles begin to feel overly tight
- The pain intensifies when you try to stretch or put pressure on the limb
- The limb becomes numb or even paralyzed
Compartment syndrome can be difficult to diagnose as the injury does not present with bruising and shares symptoms with other injuries. Thus, it may take your doctor a few tries to get the diagnosis correct. Never fear getting a second opinion, especially considering how dangerous compartment syndrome is.
Compartment Syndrome and the Long-Term Impacts
Compartment syndrome is a medical emergency, and the only treatment for it is a surgery called a fasciotomy. During the surgery, the physician will cut through the fascia and release the pressure that has built up within. Sometimes the muscles becomes too swollen to properly close the incision right away, and the physician will have to wait until the swelling goes back down or will use a skin graft to close the cut if it’s decided that waiting is not an option.
If the fasciotomy is not administered in a timely manner, there are several potential long-term impacts that you may suffer. They can include:
- Muscle scarring
- Infection
- Eventual amputation
- Permanent nerve damage
- Kidney damage due to cell death in the impacted limb
- Partial paralysis of the impacted limb
Any of these results from the syndrome can, and most likely will, leave a heavy impact on your life. You may be left disabled and handicapped, or, in the case of the kidney damage, in constant need of treatment and medical assistance. That is why it is so vital that you speak to a doctor the moment you believe you may be suffering from compartment syndrome and seek a second opinion if your doctor does not take your concerns seriously.
Filing a Claim for a Catastrophic Injury
Compartment syndrome is an incredibly serious injury that is often caused by negligence. We at Aghabegian Law Group, P.C. have seen just how devastating the pain and long-term impact of the syndrome can be. If you have developed compartment syndrome because of someone else’s actions, then you need a strong legal team to fight for your right to compensation. With years of experience under our belt, we know that we’re the team for the job.
Call our firm at (818) 350-HURT (350-4878) and find out what options are available for your after a serious injury.
Additional Information
- Compartment Syndrome - OrthoInfo - AAOS
- Compartment Syndrome - MedlinePlus
- Compartment Syndrome - Merck Manual
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