Alissa Genthon, Susan R Wilcox
BACKGROUND: Crush trauma to the extremities, even if not involving vital organs, can be life threatening. Crush syndrome, the systemic manifestation of the breakdown of muscle cells with release of contents into the circulation, leads to metabolic derangement and acute kidney injury. Although common in disaster scenarios, emergency physicians also see the syndrome in patients after motor-vehicle collisions and patients "found down" due to intoxication. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this review are to discuss the pathophysiology of crush syndrome, report on prehospital and emergency department treatment, and discuss the relationship between crush syndrome and compartment syndrome...
February 2014: Journal of Emergency Medicine