Trauma Patients and Acute Compartment Syndrome: Is There an Ariadne’s Thread That Can Safely Guide the Anesthesiologist/Emergency Physician Out of the Labyrinth?

Abstract

Trauma patients in the emergency department experience severe pain that is not always easy to manage. The risk of acute compartment syndrome further complicates the analgesic approach. The purpose of this review is to discuss relevant bibliography and highlight current guidelines and recommendations for the safe practice of peripheral nerve blocks in this special group of patients. According to the recent bibliography, peripheral nerve blocks are not contraindicated in patients at risk of acute compartment syndrome, as long as there is surveillance and certain recommendations are followed.

Keywords

• acute compartment syndrome
• pain management
• peripheral nerve blocks
• trauma patient