27-year-old Man in Surgery — 27yo Man | Orthopedics | SMLE Q#2564
SMLE Question #2564
Surgery
Orthopedics
Objective: OBJ-316
Last updated: February 2026
A 27-year-old man presents 4 hours after a crush injury to the left lower leg. He has severe, worsening pain out of proportion to the injury and paresthesia in the web space between the first and second toes. The leg is tense and pale, and passive stretching of the toes causes marked pain. Distal pulses are present but weak. X-ray shows displaced tibia and fibula fractures. Intracompartmental pressure is 35 mmHg. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
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