doi: 10.1161/hc1302.104526
(Circulation. 2002;105:1615.)
© 2002 American Heart Association, Inc.
Images in Cardiovascular Medicine |
Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome
From the Terrebonne General Medical Center, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, Houma, La.
Correspondence to Ravindra Sharma, MD, FACC, Terrebonne General Medical Center, Cardiovascular Institute of the South, 315 Liberty St, PO Box 4176, Houma, LA 70361-4176.
A 50-year-old air-conditioning repairman presented to our emergency room with a 12-hour history of progressively worsening pain, decreased temperature, and bluish discoloration involving the third right finger. The patient denied a history of prior cardiovascular problems but did smoke tobacco heavily. Careful questioning revealed that he often utilized his hand as a "hammer" and had been particularly vigorous with this technique a few days prior to admission. Physical examination demonstrated ischemic changes in the tip of the middle finger of his right hand. An x-ray (Figure 1) of the right hand demonstrated an old un-united fracture of the ulnar styloid. He was treated with intravenous heparin and underwent angiography of the right upper extremity via the right femoral approach. The study demonstrated subtotal occlusion of the right ulnar artery at the wrist with poor filling of the digital arteries supplying the lateral 3 fingers (arrows, Figure 2). The results were compatible with hypothenar hammer syndrome, a term first coined by Conn et al1 in 1970 although Guttani2,3 (1772) and Von Rosen2,4,5 (1934) had previously described similar cases. The syndrome is seen in the dominant hand of males who, during occupational or recre-ational activities, use their hand as a hammer. The mechanism of the injury relates to repetitive trauma to the superficial division of the ulnar artery in the hypothenar region of the hand. He was treated with several boluses of nitroglycerin, verapamil, and papaverine administered into the brachial artery. Repeat angiography demonstrated improved filling. His symptoms improved over the next 24 hours and did not recur. He was discharged on a regimen of subcutaneous dalteparin for 5 days and oral aspirin, clopidogrel, and nifedipine. He was also advised to quit smoking and refrain from using his hand in the manner described.
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Footnotes
The editor of Images in Cardiovascular Medicine is Hugh A. McAllister, Jr, MD, Chief, Department of Pathology, St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital and Texas Heart Institute, and Clinical Professor of Pathology, University of Texas Medical School and Baylor College of Medicine.
Circulation encourages readers to submit cardiovascular images to the Circulation Editorial Office, St Luke’s Episcopal Hospital/Texas Heart Institute, 6720 Bertner Ave, MC1-267, Houston, TX 77030.
References
1. Conn J Jr, Bergan JJ, Bell JL. Hand ischemia: hypothenar hammer syndrome. Proc Inst Med Chicago. 1970; 28: 83.
2. Aulicino PL, Hutton PM, DuPuy TE. True palmar aneurysms: a case report and literature review. J Hand Surgery. 1982; 7: 613–616.
3. Guttani C. De Externis Aneurysmatibus Manu Chirurgica Methodice Pertractandis, 1772. Erichsen JE, trans. Observations on Aneurysms. London: Sydentham Society; 1884; 316–318.
4. Von Rosen S. Ein Fall Von Thrombose in der Arteria Ulnaris nach Einwirkung von Stumper Gewalt. ACTA Chir Scand. 1934; 73: 500–506.
5. Vayssairat M. Hypothenar hammer syndrome: seventeen cases with long-term follow-up. J Vasc Surg. 1987; 5: 838–843.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
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