[Effectiveness of early fasciotomy in the management of snakebites].

Background: The purpose of this study was to emphasize that early fasciotomy performed in the treatment of snakebites in the absence of the classic compartment syndrome criteria accelerates the clinical recovery and reduces the progressive tissue damage.

Methods: Fourteen patients with snakebite were examined retrospectively. Five of them healed with routine treatments. Six patients who did not respond to the treatment underwent early fasciotomy procedure in 48 hours. All of the patients had edema, pain, ecchymosis, bulla formation, and progressive skin necrosis over the extremity. Fasciotomy was performed in three patients who were referred in the late period with compartment syndrome. Fasciotomy incisions were closed after 4-6 days.

Results: After the early fasciotomy, edema diminished rapidly, the skin became more viable and local necrosis did not progress. Further, the toxic symptoms like local temperature increase and fever also diminished. The healing process in the three patients who underwent late fasciotomy was much slower compared with the early fasciotomy group. In particular, necrosis on the muscle and skin had deteriorated.

Conclusion: Fasciotomy has a special place in snakebites. In cases of compartment syndrome, all necessary treatments including early fasciotomy should be performed before the full clinical symptoms develop or the compartment pressure reaches the threshold value.