Crush syndrome

Background

Also known as traumatic rhabdomylosis

Criteria

1. Involvement of muscle mass
2. Prolonged compression of 4-6 hours but possible in <1 hr
3. Compromised local circulation

Pathophysiology

• Hypovolemic shock
  • Third spacing of fluids
• Metabolic acidosis
  • Hyperkalemia
  • Hyperphosphatemia
  • Hypocalcemia
  • Rhabdo and Renal Failure

Clinical Features

• Skin trauma or local signs of compression over a muscle mass
  • Erythema, ecchymosis, bullae, abrasion

Differential Diagnosis

Extremity trauma

• Compartment syndrome
• Contusion
• Crush syndrome
• Degloving injury
  • Morel-Lavallée lesion
  • Ring avulsion injury
• Fracture
  • Open fracture
• Laceration
• Myositis ossificans
• Open joint injury
• Peripheral nerve injury
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Tendon injury
• Vascular injury

Management

Prehospital Proticol for Entrapment Lasting >4hrs or Suspicion of Hyperkalemia

Should begin BEFORE extrication

• Cardiac monitoring
• Hydration (~NS 1.5 L/hr)
• Pain control
• Albuterol neb
• Calcium chloride
  • 1 gram slow IV push over 60 sec
• Sodium bicarbonate
  • Flush IV with NS (prevent precipitation), then
  • 1mEq/kg added to 1L of normal saline, run IV wide open just prior to extrication
• Release compression
  • In the field, use of tourniquet before extrication is controversial

See Also

• Compartment syndrome
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)