Critical ischemia of the fingers in an auto mechanic as a result of occupational exposure

• Published in: International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health Vol. 28; no. 1; p. 169
• Main Authors: Rabczyński, Maciej, Kuźnik, Edwin, Guziński, Maciej, Adamiec, Rajmund
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Poland 2015
• Subjects: Adult; Automobiles; Cumulative Trauma Disorders - complications; Fingers - blood supply; Humans; Ischemia - etiology; Maintenance; Male; Occupational Diseases - complications; HHS; vascular disease; occupational exposure; critical ischemia

Hypothenar hammer syndrome is a rare cause of ischemic fingers observed mainly in young men smoking cigarettes and it is associated with repeated trauma of the ulnar artery in the area of the hypothenar eminence of the dominant-hand arm, resulting in a deficit of blood supply with the occurrence of hand symptoms typical for chronic and sometimes critical ischemia. Artery injury in this location is most often the result of multiple repetitions of the same activity being mostly the result of occupational exposure. We present a case of a 27-year-old car mechanic admitted to the hospital with symptoms of critical ischemia of the fingers III, IV, and V of the right hand, which resolved after conservative treatment.