QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
Compartment syndrome is a painful condition caused by an increase in intra-compartment compression. This is often due to trauma and can lead to compression of arteries, veins and nerves resulting in pain, pallor, paraesthesia, pulselessness and, eventually, paralysis.
10026976
a
Compartment syndrome
QuestionChoice
Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis is rare but could occur following surgical fixation of an upper extremity fracture. Given this patient's history of trauma, the most likely diagnosis is compartment syndrome
10026979
d
Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis
QuestionChoice
Surgery may cause nerve damage which can lead to pain. However, this is more likely to be burning/shooting pain and would not present with paraesthesia like this patient.
10026980
e
Neuropathic pain
QuestionChoice
The patient's history does not suggest that this is a normal level of pain, especially as it has not gotten better with pain relief and there is evidence of paraesthesia
10026977
b
Normal post-operative pain
QuestionChoice
Post-operative infections will typically appear 3-7 days after surgery. They will normally present with systemic symptoms, such as fever and malaise, alongside pain
10026978
c
Post-operative infection
Concept
Chapter
2693
3903
Compartment syndrome
Topic
145
Orthopaedics
17793
A 35-year-old man presents to A&E after a car accident. He has a displaced fracture of his left ulna and is sent to theatres for open reduction and internal fixation. He is complaining of severe, intractable pain in his left arm that is uncontrolled with pain relief. He is also complaining of tingling in the fingers of his left hand which has gotten progressively worse since surgery.

Given this patient's history, what is the most likely diagnosis?
a