Successful Treatment of Compartment Syndrome Following Animal Envenomation by Fasciotomy through Small Incisions, Case Reports

Three cases of compartment syndrome caused by Habu-Snake bite and stone fish sting are treated by fasciotomies through small skin incisions. In Okinawa, the most southern prefecture in Japan, many suffer animal envenomation including 140 cases of Habu-Snake bites. Some of them develop compartment syndrome but usually recover soon after the fasciotomy and take uneventful course if diagnosis is not delayed. Different from compartment syndrome caused by trauma, ischemia, or others, those caused by water-soluble toxins following animal envenomation were expected to be treated successfully with small incisions for fasciotomy. The consecutive three cases of compartment syndrome following Habu-Snake bite and stone fish sting had fasciotomies through 1.5 to 3 cm skin incisions, instead of long skin incisions which are usually made in the same length as the underlying compartment, under following close observations with high index of suspicion of recurrence. Through small skin incisions, compartment syndrome could be released completely and the wounds could be maintained uneventfully with negative pressure therapy without recurrence, infection, or contracture. This method should be considered as an option to treat compartment syndrome caused by animal envenomation and may allow victims to avoid large scars that they should carry for the rest of their life.