Radial and Ulnar Arterial Thrombosis of the Forearm and the Hand Occurring in a Volleyball Player

Abstract

Thrombosis of the ulnar artery in the hand was first reported by von Rosen in 1934. Although many similar case reports followed, thrombosis of the radial artery has not been reported.
A twenty-year-old volleyball player felt coldness and pain in his right hand while he was playing volleyball two months before admission. His pain became severe gradually. Physical examination revealed discoloration of his right hand and pulselessness of both radial and ulnar arteries. Allen test was positive in the radial and ulnar arteries. There was no evidence of peripheral vascular disease or collagen disease. The arteriogram confirmed the occlusion of the radial artery and the ulnar artery.
Surgical exploration revealed the complete occlusion of the radial artery in the distal forearm for about 8cm long and also of the ulnar artery in the palm. The thrombosed segments were resected. The great saphenous vein was taken from the thigh andgrafted in both arteries under the microscope. The patient was completely asymptomatic soon after the operation. On the 19th day after the operation arteriography was performed, which revealed that the radial artery was patent whereas the ulnar artery was not.
Three months later, the patient was asymptomatic.
It is assumed that repetitive impact to the forearm or the hand in volleyball players may cause vascular changes in these areas.
Because the radial artery runs superficially at the distal forearm, it may be vulnerable to repetitive impact force in this area.