Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Oct 1983
Intramuscular pressure, muscle blood flow, and skeletal muscle metabolism in chronic anterior tibial compartment syndrome.
One hundred eight patients with lower leg pain of unknown cause underwent intramuscular pressure measurements by the wick technique. Fifteen patients (14%) were found to have a chronic anterior tibial compartment syndrome. In these patients the intramuscular pressure was significantly increased at rest and during and after exercise as compared with normal subjects. ⋯ Biopsies of the anterior tibial muscles showed increased water content, which may explain the elevated pressures. Muscle blood flow during exercise as measured by the xenon-133 clearance technique was decreased, and muscle lactate concentration was increased in the anterior tibial muscles. Fasciotomy relieved pain and normalized intramuscular pressure, muscle blood flow, and skeletal muscle metabolism.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Oct 1983
Evaluation of acute knee injuries with sciatic/femoral nerve blocks.
A preliminary study of the applicability of sciatic and femoral regional nerve blocks in the evaluation of acute knee injuries was conducted. During the period from January 1980 to March 1981, 12 patients with acute knee injuries in whom clinical examination under local anesthesia was considered totally unreliable secondary to patient uncooperation or severe pain were examined at Grady Memorial Hospital. Each of these patients received regional anesthesia by sciatic/femoral nerve block. ⋯ A full range of motion was present in each patient after the block. No complications were encountered. A satisfactory block was obtained in one attempt in 96% of the patients. (One patient had a failed femoral nerve block, but a repeated block was successful).