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DexaDx: Enabling Earlier Interventions for Acute Compartment Syndrome
- Program: Biomedical Engineering
- Course: EN.580.611/612 Medical Device Design & Innovation
- Year: 2026
Project Description:
Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is an emergency caused by elevated pressure within a closed muscle compartment, leading to impaired perfusion and tissue ischemia. Irreversible injury can occur within 6–8 hours if untreated, making early detection critical.
ACS most commonly follows fractures, crush injuries, or vascular compromise, often developing as a secondary complication while clinicians manage primary trauma. Current diagnosis relies on subjective physical exams or invasive, intermittent needle-based pressure measurements. These methods are operator-dependent, painful, and unsuited for continuous monitoring. Delayed recognition risks permanent disability, amputation, and medicolegal exposure.
DexaDx addresses this gap with a noninvasive compartment pressure monitoring system integrated into emergency and trauma workflows. By delivering objective, continuous trend data, clinicians can identify pathologic changes before irreversible ischemia occurs, thereby improving limb salvage rates, reducing unnecessary fasciotomies, shortening length of stay, and lowering complication rates.
Project Photo:
The CBID Emergency Medicine Team: Brendan Frederick, Rahul Gorijavolu, Pranavi Gollamudi, Kara Nghiem, Ananda Nole, and Arushi Patel