Acute Finger Ischemia in an Elderly Male without Risk Factors for Hypercoagulability

Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2020 Jan 23;4(1):85-87. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2019.11.45224. eCollection 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Literature on ulnar artery thrombosis and acute finger ischemia is scant and usually related to underlying hypercoagulable or occlusive states, such as atrial fibrillation, thrombangiitis obliterans, vasospasm, trauma, and neurovascular compression at the root of the upper limb. An elderly hypertensive male without an underlying hypercoagulable state, and in otherwise good health, presented to our emergency department with acute multi-finger ischemia, and ulnar artery and palmar arch thromboses. Given his innocuous history, this case demonstrates the importance of maintaining acute arterial thrombosis on the differential for hand pain despite the obvious propensity toward mechanical injuries in the extremities.