Acute compartment syndrome in forearm fractures.

Sixteen patients were reexamined 2 to 5 years after surgical treatment of acute compartment syndrome in forearm fractures. High-energy trauma was the casual factor in 11 cases, in 5 of which there was an open fracture with skin defect. Fracture stabilization and fasciotomy of forearm and carpal compartments were performed as emergency procedures. The time for fracture healing averaged 8 weeks. Median nerve function was impaired in all the patients, and the ulnar nerve function in 8. The median nerve recovered completely in 15 patients, but ulnar nerve function was still impaired in 2 patients, 1 of whom had a nerve tissue defect. Eight patients could resume their occupation within a year.