Occupational Ischemic Hand Syndrome

A case of occlusion of the radial artery and palmar arches with gangrene of the index finger due to occupational trauma is presented to emphasize the role of repetitive trauma in the causation of hand ischemia. The diagnosis of occupational hand ischemia should be made by eliciting an occupational history involving chronic repetitive trauma to the hand, angiographic demonstration of the lesion, and the exclusion of all other causes of hand ischemia by history, laboratory investigation, and tissue biopsy. The need for unifying various syndromes associated with traumatic ischemia of the hand is pointed out. The term occupational ischemic hand syndrome is suggested to encompass the spectrum of various clinical entities previously described in the literature.