Background: We investigated the previously undescribed phenomenon of ulnar artery occlusion on clenching to make a fist, following the presentation of a patient to our unit with idiopathic ulnar-sided hand pain. This led us to study this unusual finding in a cohort of asymptomatic patients.
Methods: Ninety-one radial and ulnar arteries were studied in 23 volunteers by color duplex ultrasonography. The subjects were all asymptomatic, their ages ranged from 18 to 78 years, and included 10 males and 13 females.
Results: Twenty-two percent of ulnar arteries occluded on clenching a fist, resulting in the hand relying on in-flow solely from the radial artery. All arteries opened up following fist release allowing anterograde flow. Furthermore, 11% of superficial palmar branches of radial arteries occluded on fist-making. The pattern of flow on making a fist showed an initial burst of reverse flow followed by reduced or occluded flow and subsequently an increase in antegrade flow after release of the fist. No subject could occlude both radial and ulnar arteries simultaneously.
Conclusions: We discuss these findings in view of the potential clinical implications in terms of Raynaud's phenomenon, scleroderma, and importantly, the potential for false-positive findings of pathological ulnar artery occlusion on ultrasonography.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00276-008-0443-1 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Surgical management of ulnar artery aneurysm in hypothenar hammer syndrome.
J Vasc Bras
December 2024
Universidade Federal do Ceará - UFC, Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio - HUWC, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil.
Ulnar artery aneurysms are extremely rare and are mainly associated with hypothenar hammer syndrome, an ischemic disorder of the hand resulting from mechanical and repetitive trauma to the hypothenar region. The ulnar artery is hit against the hook of the hamate bone, causing damage to the vessel wall and leading to occlusion or formation of an aneurysm. We describe the case of a truck driver who underwent resection of an ulnar artery aneurysm in the right hand and reconstruction using end-to-end anastomosis with no complications or recurrence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHand acceleration time (HAT) as a diagnostic tool in the assessment of haemodialysis access-induced distal ischaemia (HAIDI): study protocol for a prospective cohort study in the Barcelona south metropolitan area.
BMJ Open
January 2025
Bio Heart Cardiovascular Diseases Research Group, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
Introduction: Chronic hand ischaemia may affect some haemodialysis patients with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG), a condition known as haemodialysis access-induced distal ischaemia (HAIDI). Duplex ultrasonography (DUS) can provide comprehensive insights into anatomical and perfusion properties, and measuring the hand acceleration time (HAT) has been demonstrated to be sensitive within the framework of chronic upper limb ischaemia.
Methods And Analysis: This single-centre, prospective cohort study will involve adult end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients requiring either AVF or AVG for haemodialysis.
Rare bilateral vascular variations of the upper limb: a cadaveric case study.
J Cardiothorac Surg
December 2024
Centre for Human Anatomy Education, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedical Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
Arterial variations in the upper limb are of significant clinical importance, especially in procedures such as venepunctures, coronary artery bypass grafts, trauma reconstructive surgeries, brachial plexus nerve blocks, and breast reconstructions. This report presents previously undocumented arterial variations in the upper limbs in a 95-year-old female cadaveric donor. We observed bilateral superficial ulnar arteries originating at the cubital fossa, deviating from the previously reported origin at the proximal brachial artery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Case of Arterial Bypass for Extensive Stenosis of the Ulnar Artery and Superficial Palmar Arch due to Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome.
Ann Vasc Dis
December 2024
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
We present a case of arterial bypass for extensive stenosis of the ulnar artery and superficial palmar arch. The ulnar artery and the superficial palmar arch were bypassed using the great saphenous vein. Postoperatively, blood flow to the affected fingers gradually improved and the pain disappeared.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreating a Scar-Tethered Median Nerve Neuroma in Continuity With a Fly-Over Nerve Grafting Technique.
J Hand Surg Glob Online
November 2024
1 Orthopaedic Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papanikolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Article Synopsis
- Peripheral nerve neuromas can be difficult to treat, particularly when they are scar-tethered to important structures.
- A patient with delayed neurotmesis of the median and ulnar nerves had significant scarring near the repaired brachial artery.
- To restore the median nerve continuity, surgeons opted to leave the scarred segment in place and used a "fly-over" graft technique with sural nerve autografts to avoid damaging the artery.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!