Final answer:
The injury causing compartment pressure is typically located at the site of trauma in the extremities where blood vessels have been severed. MRI or CT scans can help in localizing the injury, but immediate on-site assessment may have to be more primitive. The spinal cord can also be affected by trauma causing a hemisection, which may lead to compartment syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compartment syndrome is a condition where increased pressure within one of the body's compartments results in insufficient blood supply to tissue within that space. The injury or trauma causing the compartment pressure typically involves the extremities. When a blood vessel is severed, blood and blood components such as erythrocytes and white blood cells start leaking out of the vessel, leading to swelling and increased pressure in that compartment. This pressure can impede circulation and damage muscles and nerves.
Diagnostic tools like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or CT (Computed Tomography) scanning can help localize the site of the injury. However, on the scene of an accident, simpler methods such as using a cotton-tipped applicator to probe the area may be utilized to determine the injury location. This is crucial when immediate decisions regarding the movement of the victim are necessary.
Spinal cord injuries, such as in a motorcycle accident, may also result in compartment syndrome. A forceful trauma can cause a fracture in the vertebrae, leading to increased pressure within the spinal column, specifically affecting the cord.