Assessment of Near Infrared Spectroscopy as a Diagnostic Tool in Acute Compartment Syndrome

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is associated with lower leg trauma in up to 20% of high energy injuries. ACS occurs when the pressure due to swelling exceeds the perfusion pressure thereby cutting off blood flow to the leg. If untreated, the results can be catastrophic with an insensate, contracted leg. Moreover, there is a high risk of subsequent infection and even amputation. The treatment for ACS, a four compartment fasciotomy, is aimed at releasing the pressure through two incisions from roughly the knee to the ankle. Often due to wound expansion, the incisions require multiple debridements and skin grafting to close. With fasciotomies, fractures are converted from closed to open injuries. When left open for many days, the risk of infection and complications such as nonunion increase significantly.

The only accepted objective method for diagnosis of ACS is to measure the pressure inside the leg compartments by using a large gauge needle hooked to a pressure monitor. However, these readings can be erroneous if not performed correctly. As such, ACS continues to be a clinical diagnosis which is made based on the surgeon's experience and their interpretation of the character of the injury (high-energy, motorcycle crash, vs. low-energy, a twisted ankle). Clinicians are left to attempt to interpret physical exam findings and readings from pressure monitors. Most importantly ACS is not an event, but a process that can manifest at multiple points after injury. The most accurate and effective method for diagnosing and appropriately treating ACS is serial examination over a course of hours to days.

With this study, we hope to evaluate the NIRS device, which is non-invasive, as diagnostic tool in the evaluation of acute compartment syndrome. We plan to evaluate all patients by the gold standard in diagnosing acute compartment syndrome while simultaneously evaluating the patient with the NIRS device. This will allow us to determine if the NIRS device can accurately and reliably predict the development of acute compartment syndrome in a non-invasive, longitudinal manner.

"Access to a precise, reliable, and noninvasive method for early diagnosis of ACS would be a landmark achievement in orthopaedic and emergency medicine."