Characterization of systemic and histologic injury after crush syndrome and intervals of reperfusion in a small animal model.

Background: Prolonged compression of limb muscles and subsequent decompression are important in the development of crush syndrome (CS). We applied a simple rubber tourniquet to rat hind limbs to create a CS model.

Methods: Anesthetized rats were subjected to bilateral hind limb compression for 5 hours followed by decompression and reperfusion for 0 hour, 1 hour, 3 hours, and 24 hours under monitoring of arterial blood pressure and electrocardiography.