Compartment syndrome: Neuromuscular complications and electrodiagnosis.

Compartment syndrome (CS) is a treatable condition characterized by elevated intracompartmental pressure and may be acute or chronic in nature. Sustained elevated compartment pressure can lead to ischemia and necrosis of muscle as well as injury to peripheral nerves, creating a deficit that may be neuropathic, myopathic, or mixed. While electrodiagnostic assessments are of limited utility in the diagnosis of acute/traumatic CS, they can assist with prognosticating return of function after surgical fasciotomy or in clarifying the injury pattern in cases in which a traumatic injury results in subsequent neuromuscular deficits.

Effect of hip and knee position on nerve conduction in the common fibular nerve.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to measure the influence that hip and knee position have on routine fibular motor nerve conduction studies.

Methods: Healthy subjects under age 40 were recruited (n = 24) to have fibular nerve conduction studies completed in various positions, using hip extension-knee extension as a control.

Results: A mean increase in conduction velocity of 2.