Snapshot A 50-year-old man presents to his physician’s office two months after he was treated for compartment syndrome in his forearm. He reports having difficulty using his hands. Physical exam shows that his right fingers and wrist are flexed into a claw-like contracture. He is referred for surgical correction. Introduction Clinical definition claw-like deformity of the hands with permanent shortening of the forearm muscles, resulting from ischemia and necrosis of the forearm muscles Epidemiology demographics adults risk factors compartment syndrome supracondylar humerus fracture crush injuries bleeding disorders Pathogenesis ischemia and necrosis of the forearm muscles from obstruction of the brachial artery (compartment syndrome or restrictive cast) fracture of the forearm bones causing bleeding from the major blood vessels this results in scarring, stiffening, and shortening of the forearm muscles, causing the contracture Presentation Symptoms inability to extend fingers or wrist or open hand Physical exam flexion contracture of several or all fingers wrist may also be involved may have ↓ sensation pain with passive extension of fingers or wrist unable to passively extend fingers or wrist fully Studies Making the diagnosis most cases are clinically diagnosed Differential Pseudo-Volkmann contracture distinguishing factors primarily in children forearm muscles are a normal length Treatment Conservative physical and occupational therapy indication for all patients Operative surgical treatment indication to restore function of the hand Complications Permanent contracture of hands
QUESTIONS 1 of 1 1 Previous Next (M1.MK.14.40) A 5-year-old boy presents to the emergency department following an ATV accident in which he sustained an arm fracture (see Figure A). The fracture was reduced and a plaster cast was molded firmly to the arm. The child returns to clinic two weeks later, where he is found to have a flexion contracture of the hand at the wrist (see Figure B). Passive extension of his fingers in extremely painful. What is the primary mechanism that caused this deformity? QID: 106255 FIGURES: A B Type & Select Correct Answer 1 Ulnar nerve injury 15% (4/27) 2 Radial nerve injury 48% (13/27) 3 Median nerve injury 15% (4/27) 4 Obstruction of the brachial artery 19% (5/27) 5 Obstruction of the axillary artery 4% (1/27) M 2 Question Complexity E Question Importance Select Answer to see Preferred Response SUBMIT RESPONSE 4 Review Tested Concept Review Full Topic
All Videos (1) Login to View Community Videos Login to View Community Videos Volkmann's Ischemic Contracture Chris Battista MSK - Volkmann Ischemic Contracture E 3/19/2014 124 views 0.0 (0)