a system and method are disclosed for noninvasively diagnosing limb compartment syndrome by measuring a quantitative modulus of hardness . in the preferred embodiment , a nonmovable pressure probe mounted in the center of a movable spring loaded platform is applied against a limb compartment . force is gradually applied to the probe and the platform , compressing a limb compartment . pressure on the probe is measured as the probe pushes into the limb . the spring loaded platform displaces , and the distance of the probe tip to the platform is measured . this distance is the depth of compression into the limb by the probe . the relationship of incremental pressures in the probe and the corresponding distance of the probe tip to the platform for each pressure is plotted . a linear regression analysis is preformed whose slope forms a quantitative modulus of hardness .