Too many platelets to cause compartment syndrome

An 86-year-old Taiwanese woman presented with a 1-week history of progressive swelling, pain and paresthesia of left forearm. Physical examination revealed extensive confluent hemorrhagic bullae on the arm (Figure 1a). Bleeding from other sites was absent. She denied any recent trauma but had undergone a toe amputation because of thrombotic gangrene 4 months ago. A complete blood count showed a white cell count of 15 700/mm3, hemoglobin level of 10.5 g/dl and a platelet count of 3 390 000/mm3. Prothrombin time was 12.9 s (normal …