Rhabdomyolysis Causes
There are many traumatic and nontraumatic causes of rhabdomyolysis. In the first category, causes include:
- A crush injury such as from an auto accident, fall, or building collapse
- Long-lasting muscle compression such as that caused by prolonged immobilization after a fall or lying unconscious on a hard surface during illness or while under the influence of alcohol or medication
- Electrical shock injury, lightning strike, or third-degree burn
- Venom from a snake or insect bite
Nontraumatic causes of rhabdomyolysis include:
- Extreme muscle strain, especially in someone who is an untrained athlete; this can happen in elite athletes, too, and it can be more dangerous if there is more muscle mass to break down.