Establishment and pathophysiological evaluation of a novel model of acute compartment syndrome in rats

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2024-01, Vol.25 (1), p.70-70, Article 70
• Main Authors: Dong, Qi, Long, Yubin, Jin, Lin, Hou, Guanlin, Li, Guoqiang, Wang, Tao, Jia, Huiyang, Yin, Yingchao, Guo, Junfei, Ma, Huijie, Xu, Sujuan, Zhang, Yingze, Hou, Zhiyong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute compartment sundrome; Animal models; Animal models in research; Blood flow; Blood pressure; Compartment syndrome; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Ethanol; Experiments; Fibrosis; Fractures; ICP; Injuries; Laboratory animals; Leg; Medical diagnosis; Medical research; Pathophysiology; Physiology; Pressure; Translational research; Trauma
• ISSN: 1471-2474; 1471-2474
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07187-6

Researches have used intra-compartmental infusion and ballon tourniquest to create high intra-compartmental pressure in animal models of Acute Compartment Syndrome (ACS). However, due to the large differences in the modeling methods and the evaluation criteria of ACS, further researches of its pathophysiology and pathogenesis are hindered. Currently, there is no ideal animal model for ACS and this study aimed to establish a reproducible, clinically relevant animal model. Blunt trauma and fracture were caused by the free falling of weights (0.5 kg, 1 kg, 2 kg) from a height of 40 cm onto the lower legs of rats, and the application of pressures of 100 mmHg, 200 mmHg, 300 mmHg and 400 mmHg to the lower limbs of rats using a modified pressurizing device for 6 h. The intra-compartmental pressure (ICP) and the pressure change (ΔP) of rats with single and combined injury were continuously recorded, and the pathophysiology of the rats was assessed based on serum biochemistry, histological and hemodynamic changes. The ΔP caused by single injury method of different weights falling onto the lower leg did not meet the diagnosis criteria for ACS (