A 25-year-old male patient arrives by air transport after being rescued from a building collapse. He has significant swelling and pain in his left leg, which is unresponsive to analgesics. You notice the leg is tense and there is decreased sensation. Which intervention is immediate and necessary to prevent irreversible damage?
Administering additional analgesics
Elevating the affected limb to reduce swelling
Monitoring vital signs closely
Performing or preparing the patient for a fasciotomy
The correct answer is performing or preparing the patient for a fasciotomy. This surgical procedure relieves pressure within the muscle compartments and restores blood flow, preventing irreversible damage to the muscles and nerves. Monitoring vital signs or providing additional analgesics would be supportive measures but would not address the root cause of rising pressure, and delaying intervention could result in permanent disability or limb loss. Elevating the affected limb can potentially worsen compartment syndrome by reducing arterial flow.
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