This case report describes a 43-year-old woman who experienced cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure after undergoing surgery to release a tense lumbar paraspinal compartment. The compartment syndrome developed after she fell two stories. Although her health was previously good, she experienced decompensation after the surgery that was concluded to be caused by ischemia-reperfusion syndrome. Ischemia-reperfusion syndrome occurs when blood flow is restored to ischemic tissue, causing cellular injury and systemic effects. This is the first reported case of a paraspinal compartment syndrome initiating ischemia-reperfusion injury.