Acute hand pain resulting in spontaneous thenar compartment syndrome

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Compartment syndrome is a potentially limb-threatening disease process, leading to decreased tissue perfusion and cellular death [1]. The following presentation is believed to be the first reported case of thenar compartment syndrome, which occurred without an identifiable cause. A 67-year-old male presented with 12 h of left-hand pain, located at the base of the thumb and worsened with movement. Firmness of the thenar eminence, along with pallor, poikilothermia, and paresthesias of the first and second digits lead to the increased suspicion for compartment syndrome. The diagnosis was confirmed and successfully managed in the operating room. While relatively uncommon, clinicians should consider the diagnosis of compartment syndrome of the hand when patients present with acute hand pain. A missed or delayed diagnosis can lead to severe morbidity, which can profoundly affect patients’ functional outcomes and quality of life.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)561.e3-561.e4
JournalAmerican Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume37
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Compartment syndrome
  • Fasciotomy
  • Hand pain
  • Spontaneous
  • Thenar

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Acute hand pain resulting in spontaneous thenar compartment syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this