What is known as the five Ps of compartment syndrome include: pain, generally the initial symptom, accompanied by pulselessness, pallor, paralysis, and paraesthesias.

Pain will likely also increase upon extension of the affected limbs hands and fingers, which is one of the earliest signs of compartment syndrome and should urgently be followed up by an exam to look for potential development of Volkmann contracture itself.

Palpating for tissue firmness in the forearm, and the pulse volume and character of the radial artery, also reflects the degree of compartment syndrome.

[citation needed] Prevention of the condition requires restoration of blood flow after injury and reduction of compartmental pressure on the muscles.

[citation needed] It is named after Richard von Volkmann (1830–1889), the 19th century German doctor who first described it,[4] in a paper on "non-Infective Ischemic conditions of various fascial compartments in the extremities".