Repetitive Blunt Trauma and Arterial Injury in the Hand

Introduction/purpose: Arterial injury in the hand is most often due to repetitive blunt trauma. Although not always associated with significant impairment, it may cause serious ischemic damage or considerable disability. As a cause of digital ischemia, the frequency of this disorder is widely under appreciated. This study reviews the clinical and angiographic features of this condition.

Materials/methods: An extensive literature review combined with the authors experience with arterial injury in the hand due to repetitive blunt hand trauma is summarized with emphasis on mechanisms of injury and pathologic changes to explain the angiographic findings and clinical presentations.

Results: Angiographic findings are related to severity of injury and underlying changes in the arterial wall. The clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic to digital necrosis and gangrene, related to severity of arterial injury, collateral circulation, and the highly variable arterial anatomy in the hand.

Conclusion: Early recognition is important because compared to many other causes of digital ischemia in the upper extremities, traumatic arterial injury is frequently readily treatable. Angiographic findings and clinical presentation are often characteristic. The diagnosis should not be based on a clear history of repetitive hand trauma since the patient may be unaware of this occurrence.