[Acute compartment syndrome in the thigh].

BACKGROUND: Compartment syndrome in the thigh is an uncomon but potentially devastating condition that has been associated with multiple etiologies mainly for motor vehicle trauma, closed or open femur fractures, and vascular injuries. The entity is more known to occur in the leg.

AIM: This is a report on three patients with compartment syndrome of the thigh. One following a road accident with an open fracture of the femur and the other two patients as a result of gun shot injuries and open fractures of the femur.

METHODS: The outcomes of three patients suffering from acute compartment symdrome of the thigh was assessed. The patients were evaluted functionally, radiographically, and all their charts were reviewed.

RESULTS: All patients underwent successful urgent fasciotomy of the involved compartment. In two patients, injury to small arteries, branches of the femoral artery were noticed following angiography. Successful embolization controlled the bleeding.

CONCLUSION: Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of an acute compartment syndrome and knowledge of the anatomy of the compartments of the thigh will help in the diagnosis and treatment of this potentially devastating complication. Arteriography with embolization if necessary is advised for all cases of suspected thigh compartment syndrome in which their hemodynamic situation is not stable.