Which option is NOT part of the 7 P's of compartment syndrome?

• A. Pain
• B. Pallor
• C. Itching
• D. Paresthesia

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is the set of warning signs that indicate compartment syndrome, summarized as the seven P's: pain out of proportion to exam and worsened by passive movement, paresthesia from nerve ischemia, pallor from reduced blood flow, pulselessness as perfusion becomes severely compromised, paralysis when muscle and nerve injury progresses, pressure from the elevated compartment, and poikilothermia, meaning a cool extremity. Itching does not fit these signs because it points to an skin irritation or allergy rather than muscle/nerve ischemia. The other signs are all traditional components of the seven P's, with pain typically the earliest clue and paresthesia signaling neural involvement. In suspected cases, prompt evaluation and intervention are critical to prevent muscle necrosis and nerve damage.