Medline ® Abstract for Reference 70

The objectives of this study were to compare the reliability and accuracy of published methods of measuring intramuscular compartment pressures. A muscle compartment model was constructed. Pressure was standardized using a water column exerting pressure on a muscle slab. The following three methods of intracompartmental pressure were used to measure the pressure within the muscle slab of the model: (1) Stryker, (2) manometric IV pump, and (3) Whitesides method. The Stryker and IV pump methods were similarly accurate compared with the "standard pressure." The Whitesides method was not reliable in measuring a reproducible pressure. The IV pump method is comparable to the Stryker instrument in terms of accuracy and ease of use. If a Stryker instrument is unavailable, the IV pump method can serve as a suitable and satisfactory alternative.