What initial investigations should be performed to confirm a diagnosis of compartment syndrome in primary care?

Initial investigations to confirm a diagnosis of compartment syndrome in primary care are primarily clinical rather than investigative. Compartment syndrome is a clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and signs such as severe pain disproportionate to the injury, pain on passive stretch of muscles within the compartment, tense swollen compartment, and neurological deficits.

In primary care, there are no specific diagnostic tests to confirm compartment syndrome. Immediate referral for emergency assessment in secondary care is essential if compartment syndrome is suspected, especially following fractures or trauma.

Continuous compartment pressure monitoring is considered in hospital settings when clinical signs are unclear, for example, if the patient is unconscious or has a nerve block, but this is not available in primary care.

Therefore, the initial approach in primary care is to perform a thorough clinical assessment and urgently refer the patient to hospital for further evaluation and management.

Summary: No specific investigations are performed in primary care to confirm compartment syndrome; diagnosis is clinical, and urgent referral to secondary care is required for further assessment and possible compartment pressure measurement.

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