Symptoms:

The hallmark symptom of compartment syndrome is severe pain that does not go away when you take pain medicine or raise the affected area. In more severe cases, symptoms may include:

• Decreased sensation
• Paleness of skin
• Severe pain that gets worse
• Weakness

Signs and tests:

A physical exam will reveal:

• Pain when the compartment is squeezed
• Severe pain when you move the affected area (for example, a person with compartment syndrome in the foot or lower leg will experience severe pain when moving the toes up and down)
• Swollen and shiny skin

To confirm the diagosis, the health care provider will directly measure the pressure in the compartment. This is done using a needle attached to a pressure meter into the compartment. The needle is inserted into the affected area. Specific pressure measurements will lead to a diagnosis of compartment syndrome.

When the health care provider suspects chronic compartment syndrome, this test must be performed during and after the activity that causes pain.