Initial intramuscular perfusion pressure predicts early skeletal muscle function following isolated tibial fractures.

Background: The severity of associated soft tissue trauma in complex injuries of the extremities guides fracture treatment and decisively determines patient's prognosis. Trauma-induced microvascular dysfunction and increased tissue pressure is known to trigger secondary soft tissue damage and seems to adversely affect skeletal muscle function.

Methods: 20 patients with isolated tibial fractures were included.