Upper limb compartment syndrome after a viper bite in a child: A case report

C Barani; G Mortamet; A Forli

doi:10.1016/j.hansur.2020.07.003

Upper limb compartment syndrome after a viper bite in a child: A case report

Hand Surg Rehabil. 2021 Feb;40(1):97-100. doi: 10.1016/j.hansur.2020.07.003. Epub 2020 Aug 8.

Authors

C Barani¹, G Mortamet², A Forli³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plastic and Reconstrutive Surgery of the Limb-Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Grenoble, Avenue du Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38700 La Tronche, France. Electronic address: barani.camille@gmail.com.
² Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Grenoble, Avenue du Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38700 La Tronche, France.
³ Department of Plastic and Reconstrutive Surgery of the Limb-Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Grenoble, Avenue du Maquis du Grésivaudan, 38700 La Tronche, France.

PMID: 32781253
DOI: 10.1016/j.hansur.2020.07.003

Abstract

The occurrence of compartment syndrome after a viper bite is a rare phenomenon and its treatment remains controversial. We report the case of an 11-year-old boy who developed compartment syndrome of the right upper limb following a viper bite. Decompression by fasciotomy was performed urgently with a good outcome. Surgical decompression for compartment syndrome following a viper bite is not a common treatment according to the literature. Fast access to care and antivenom administration seem to be effective at treating the compartment syndrome without recourse to fasciotomy.

Keywords: Child; Compartment syndrome; Enfant; Fasciotomie; Fasciotomy; Morsure de vipère; Syndrome des loges; Viper bite.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Antivenins / therapeutic use
Child
Compartment Syndromes* / etiology
Compartment Syndromes* / surgery
Fasciotomy
Humans
Male
Snake Bites* / complications
Upper Extremity / surgery

Substances

Antivenins