SAQ Stack

Short Answer Questions for ED Fellowship Study

Case: Compartment syndrome

You are called to see patient in your department who is awaiting orthopaedic admission for a complex lower leg fracture requiring operative fixation. Your registrar has placed the patient in an above knee cast which has been split laterally. The nurses are worried that the patient has increasing pain and distress. The orthopaedic registrar has been repeatedly delayed due to theatre cases.

Compartment syndrome

The initial XR (prior to immobilisation) is shown.

1. List (4) radiological abnormalities on this image. 4 marks

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Your assessment is highly concerning for compartment syndrome.

2. Apart from increasing pain, list (4) features of your examination that would suggest the development of compartment syndrome in the leg. 4 marks

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3. State (4) immediate management priorities in this situation. 4 marks

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This case forms part of a collaborative marking project designed to support fellowship preparation. In the week leading up to each tutorial, you can contribute answers to any active case. If you contribute, your answers may be reviewed, marked, and used to refine the model answers during the weekly fellowship teaching sessions.

All responses are displayed anonymously or using anonymised avatars. You remain in full control of your answers and may withdraw them at any time.

Your personal results and updated model answers become available the day after the tutorial.

After the tutorial you can still do the case and self-mark your answers, but your answers will not be included in the group review.