Traumatic Femoral Vein Rupture Resulting in Compartment Syndrome with Concomitant Closed Femoral Diaphyseal Fracture: A Case Report

Compartment syndrome of the thigh after an isolated femoral shaft fracture is a rare finding1. Schwartz et al.2 found only twenty-one cases of thigh compartment syndrome in more than 6000 patients with femoral shaft fracture. Arterial injury has been reported to cause compartment syndrome either directly or indirectly after arterial repair2-5. To our knowledge, acute thigh compartment syndrome secondary to femoral vein rupture has not previously been reported.

We present a patient with acute thigh compartment syndrome caused by bleeding from a rupture of the femoral vein with a concomitant traumatic femoral diaphyseal fracture. The fracture and compartment syndrome were successfully treated with an extensive lateral fasciotomy and open reduction and internal fracture fixation with locked intramedullary nailing, followed by primary reconstruction of the ruptured femoral vein with a saphenous vein graft. The patient was informed that data concerning his case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent.