Drug Overdose, Loss of Consciousness, and Compartment Syndrome: A Life-Threatening Combination

Acute extremity compartment syndrome is considered an orthopedic emergency that has serious consequences if a correct diagnosis is not made rapidly. Patients who lose consciousness due to a drug overdose are known to collapse onto their extremities. The limbs are compressed for hours, placing them at an increased risk for acute extremity compartment syndrome and its sequelae. Compartment syndrome due to a compression of a limb from loss of consciousness secondary to drug overdose, presents unique issues to health care providers.
Source: Journal of Emergency Nursing: JEN - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Clinical Source Type: research