Fasciotomy Procedures on Acute Compartment Syndromes of the Upper Extremity Related to Burns

Compartment syndrome is a serious complication of extremity burns. The goal of this study is to review cases with upper extremity compartment syndrome that had fasciotomy and to underline the significance of emergency fasciotomy procedures. The medical records of 43 patients who had fasciotomy because of compartment syndrome of the upper extremity between 2007 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Etiology, age, sex, fasciotomy area, the period between the burn and fasciotomy, and treatment options were evaluated. Patients with arm, forearm, and hand or digit fasciotomy were presented. Scalding and electric were the predominant cause among all patients. While 12 patients were adults, 31 of them were children and the patients’ ages ranged between 1 and 39. Defect areas formed after fasciotomy were closed with skin grafts and primary closure. Length of hospital stay in electrical burns group was significantly longer than in other burn groups (p<0.002). Burn injuries of the upper extremity are frequently seen. Most of the patients with circular burns occur compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency requiring rapid diagnosis and treatment by urgent fasciotomy procedure. Thus, early diagnosis and adequate surgical decompression prevents function losses in the affected extremity.