Guo Jialiang, Zhang Jianfeng, Du Kezheng, Shi Bo, Dong Weichong, Zhang Yingze, Hou Zhiyong
Department of Orthopaedics, Hebei Medical University Third Hospital, Shijiazhuang, China.
Department of Pharmacy, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Orthop Surg. 2025 Aug;17(8):2413-2421. doi: 10.1111/os.70078. Epub 2025 Jun 16.
Acute compartment syndrome is a major orthopedic emergency due to elevated pressure in the closed muscle compartment, and prompt evaluation and fasciotomy are always needed. However, the gold standard indicator of fasciotomy is still under debate. To date, few studies have investigated the variations in compartmental pressure at different locations in people of different ages. The aim of the research was to compare compartmental pressure among different age groups and measurement locations.
A total of 154 healthy individuals including 106 males and 48 females over 18 years (46.8 ± 14.0 years) were enrolled between January 2020 and December 2021, and classified into five age groups: Group I = 18-30 years; Group II = 31-40 years; Group III = 41-50 years; Group IV = 51-60 years; and Group V ≥ 61 years. Six measurement locations (lower, middle, and upper points, 6 points) were selected to assess pressure variations in the anterior compartment and posterior superficial compartment with the iCare device, which calculates biomechanical properties based on the tissue's inherent response. Differences in pressure among the five age groups and six measurement locations (three for anterior compartment, three for posterior superficial compartment) were examined. One-way ANOVA and LST tests were used to conduct comparisons among five independent age groups.
In the same measurement location, the compartmental pressure in Group V at the upper anterior (anterior fascial compartment) measurement location was increased compared with that in Groups I, III, and IV. However, the compartmental pressures at the middle anterior and posterior measurement locations were almost comparable among the five different age groups. In the same age group, the compartmental pressure was more inclined to be lower at the upper anterior measurement location in Groups I-IV. However, no significant differences were observed for other measurement locations.
The measurement results demonstrated comparable compartmental pressure in the fascial compartment at most measurement locations. The fascia, which forms the limb compartment, may play a role in pressure release or redistribution after injury or fracture due to its function and unique or interconnected structure.
急性骨筋膜室综合征是一种主要的骨科急症，由于封闭的肌肉间隙内压力升高，始终需要进行及时评估和筋膜切开术。然而，筋膜切开术的金标准指标仍存在争议。迄今为止，很少有研究调查不同年龄人群不同部位的骨筋膜室内压力变化。本研究的目的是比较不同年龄组和测量部位之间的骨筋膜室内压力。
2020年1月至2021年12月期间，共纳入154名18岁以上的健康个体，其中男性106名，女性48名（46.8±14.0岁），并分为五个年龄组：第一组=18-30岁；第二组=31-40岁；第三组=41-50岁；第四组=51-60岁；第五组≥61岁。选择六个测量部位（下部、中部和上部点，共6个点），使用iCare设备评估前骨筋膜室和后浅骨筋膜室内的压力变化，该设备根据组织的固有反应计算生物力学特性。检查五个年龄组和六个测量部位（前骨筋膜室3个，后浅骨筋膜室3个）之间的压力差异。采用单因素方差分析和LST检验对五个独立年龄组进行比较。
在相同测量部位，第五组在前骨筋膜室上部（前筋膜室）测量部位的骨筋膜室内压力高于第一组、第三组和第四组。然而，五个不同年龄组在前骨筋膜室中部和后骨筋膜室测量部位的骨筋膜室内压力几乎相当。在同一年龄组中，第一组至第四组在前骨筋膜室上部测量部位的骨筋膜室内压力更倾向于较低。然而，其他测量部位未观察到显著差异。
测量结果表明，在大多数测量部位，筋膜室内的骨筋膜室内压力相当。形成肢体筋膜室的筋膜，由于其功能以及独特或相互连接的结构，可能在损伤或骨折后起到压力释放或重新分布的作用。
