Compartment Syndrome (CS) occurs when excessive pressure builds up inside an enclosed tissue (compartment) in the body such as lower-leg muscles or the abdomen. The increased pressure can reduce or prevent blood flow, which in turn can cause necrosis or nerve damage leading to permanent loss of function, limb amputation, or even death. Overlooked acute CS is a major liability risk for the treating physician. The estimated costs and lawsuit awards of overlooked compartment syndrome cases average $280,000 per case. The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of using Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) for CS diagnosis. These measurements will allow calculating the sensitivity and specificity of SWE for the diagnosis of acute CS in comparison to needle manometry.
Related Publications
Sadeghi, S., Johnson, M., Bader, D. A., & Cortes, D. H. (2019). The shear modulus of lower-leg muscles correlates to intramuscular pressure. Journal of biomechanics, 83, 190-196. Download PDF file
Sadeghi, S., Johnson, M., Bader, D. A., & Cortes, D. H. (2019). Change in Shear Modulus of Healthy Lower Leg Muscles After Treadmill Running: Toward a Noninvasive Diagnosis of Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome. Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy, 2(3), 031004. Download PDF file