Acute Compartment Syndrome in Pediatric Patients with Peripheral Nerve Blocks

Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS) is an emergency condition.1 Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are commonly used in pediatric orthopedic surgeries for postoperative pain management. Placing PNBs in patients at risk for ACS is controversial, proposing concerns that PNBs mask pain associated with ACS, potentially delaying diagnosis.2 Few  studies exist on the impact of PNBs on diagnosis & treatment of ACS in pediatric patients.

 

This retrospective study investigates the impact of PNBs on time to ACS diagnosis and fasciotomy and clinical outcomes in these patients; comparing the findings with current literature.