Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Knee Lipohemarthrosis
Division
North Florida
Hospital
Ocala Regional Medical Center
Document Type
Case Report
Publication Date
8-6-2021
Keywords
lipohemarthrosis, tibial fracture, compartment syndrome, fat-fluid level, fibular fracture, intra-articular fracture, compartment pressure
Disciplines
Cardiovascular Diseases | Emergency Medicine | Musculoskeletal Diseases | Trauma
Abstract
When treating patients presenting with knee trauma or intra-articular fracture, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for lipohemarthrosis. Diagnosis of lipohemarthrosis can be accomplished via visualization of a fat-fluid level. Increased fluid and pressure build-up within the joint space may lead to compartment syndrome, which requires emergency compartment fasciotomy. In this paper, we discuss the importance of identifying lipohemarthrosis in patients presenting with intra-articular fracture, as well as the necessity of frequent patient re-evaluations in order to monitor the onset of compartment syndrome.
Publisher or Conference
Cureus
Recommended Citation
Kim ME, Stead TS, Ganti L. Compartment Syndrome Secondary to Knee Lipohemarthrosis. Cureus. 2021;13(8):e16946. doi:10.7759/cureus.16946
