Numbness in Surgery — 23yo Man | Orthopedics | SMLE Q#16516
SMLE Question #16516
Surgery
Orthopedics
Objective: OBJ-316
Last updated: February 2026
A 23-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a high-speed motor vehicle collision. He has a closed displaced mid-shaft fracture of the right tibia and fibula. He reports severe right leg pain with numbness in the foot. The leg is markedly swollen and tense, and pain increases with passive toe extension. Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses are not palpable, and capillary refill is delayed. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
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