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Hypothenar Hammer Syndrome, Sports Medicine

Holly J. Benjamin, MD, FAAP, FACSM and Tarek S. Hadla, MD, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Lesion of the superficial palmar arch of the ulnar artery in the hand caused mainly by repetitive compression or blunt trauma or even a single severe trauma over the hook of the hama...

DIAGNOSIS

Early diagnosis allows more effective therapeutic strategies and is important to prevent long-term negative medical sequelae 5[B]. 

HISTORY

Symptoms2
  • Paresthesia in fingers; pins and needles ...

TREATMENT

Optimal therapy for HHS has not been determined. 
  • Nonsurgical:

    • Lifestyle modification: Avoid further trauma, smoke cessation, alteration of sport activity.

    • Urokinase has been used to clear obst...

ONGOING CARE

  • Complications: gangrene of the fingers in severe cases, which may require surgery

  • Prognosis: Many patients improve with nonsurgical treatments as mentioned above (about 80% success). Resul...

REFERENCES

1
Ferris BL, Taylor LMJr, Oyama K, et al. Hypothenar hammer syndrome: proposed etiology. J Vasc Surg.  2000;31(1, Pt 1):104–113.
2
Jagenburg A, Goyen M, Hirschelmann R, et al. Hypothenar ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Avoid using hand as a hammer.

  • Rare condition, but needs high suspicion in certain groups

  • Doppler US—first line

  • CT angiography—gold standard

  • Prevention is the best management modality.

  • Surge...

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