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- Oct 13, 2013
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Only if the bleeding / swelling occurs in a small nonelastic compartment of the body such that the pressure of the hematoma /swelling exceeds the the blood pressure. This cuts off the blood supply to the muscle causing intense pain and becomes a medical emergency because if not acted on causes the muscle to die and potentially an amputation is necessary.lead to Compartment Syndrome
The main compartments are in the lower legs, forearms, thighs, gluteal and abdomen.
A Compartment is basically muscle surrounded by non elastic Non stretchable fascial tissue.
Some athletes get Chronic compartment syndrome after excercise/sports activity. Mostly in the lower leg where their compartments are too small. When they exercise, their muscles swell restricting its blood supply. It improves after rest. There is a surgical treatment - fasciotomy, where the surgeon makes a cut on the fascia allowing the muscle room to expand.
Fasciotomy is also done in an emergency as a limb saving procedure in acute compartment syndrome - but its more extensive
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