Risk Factors for Amputation in Opioid-Related Compartment Syndrome

CATEGORY: Trauma; Other INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Increase in opioid use has been associated with a higher incidence of compartment syndrome. To our knowledge, there is no long-term or large database study that analyzes this unique patient population. We sought to compare the clinical outcomes of opioid-related compartment syndrome (ORCS) and non-opioid related compartment syndrome (NORCS), and assess risk factors for amputation in ORCS. METHODS: Data on 154 patients (132 NORCS and 22 ORCS patients) from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021 who presented with compartment syndrome was collected through a multicenter billing database. We analyzed demographic and clinical findings, including cause of compartment syndrome, time until initial evaluation, length of hospital stay, number of surgeries, rate of amputation, and peak creatinine kinase (CK) and lactate levels. Bivariate statistics were used to assess the data. RESULTS: The most common cause of compartment syndrome was trauma (62%) in the lower leg (79%). Twenty-one ORCS patients (96%) had a delayed presentation after immobilization in dependent position for >=8 hours. ORCS patients had significantly higher mean peak CK and lactate levels (p<0.001), length of hospital stay (p<0.001), and number of operations (p=0.03) compared to NORCS. All parameters, except for mean peak CK and lactate, were significantly greater among ORCS patients with subsequent amputation, compared to ORCS patients without amputation. ORCS patients with amputation had a significantly greater mean peak CK and lactate levels compared to ORCS without amputation (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: ORCS patients with subsequent amputation are associated with a longer and more complicated clinical course compared to ORCS and NORCS patients. As opioid use continues to rise, physicians should be aware of the unique challenges associated with ORCS patients.