Anterior compartment pressures in patients with tibial fractures.

Twenty patients with tibial fractures had measurements of tissue pressure in the anterior compartment acutely and for the first 72 hours following injury. Measurements were made using a mercury monometric indicator similar to that described by Whitesides. Patients with fractures of the proximal third of the tibia, those with displacement of the fracture fragments greater than 50%, and those whose injury was the result of high-energy trauma developed higher compartment pressures and we conclude that such patients should be observed closely for the development of a compartment syndrome. In normotensive patients in this series fasciotomy was not necessary for tissue pressures less than 50 mm Hg in the absence of any sensory or motor compromise.