Volkmann's contracture
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	T79.6
ICD-9	958.6
DiseasesDB	13991
MedlinePlus	001221
eMedicine	orthoped/578
MeSH	C05.651.180

Volkmann's contracture, also known as Volkmann's ischaemic contracture, is a permanent flexion contracture of the hand at the wrist, resulting in a claw-like deformity of the hand and fingers.

Contents 1 History 2 Causes 3 Treatment 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

It is named after Dr. Richard von Volkmann (1830 - 1889), the 19th century German doctor who first described it, in a paper on "non-Infective Ischemic conditions of various fascial compartments in the extremities".^[1]

[edit] Causes

Volkmann's contracture results from acute ischaemia of the muscles of the forearm. It is caused by pressure on the brachial artery, possibly from improper use of a tourniquet, improper use of a plaster cast or from compartmental syndrome. It is commonly described in supracondylar fracture of the humerus where it results in injury/occlusion of the brachial artery.

Fibrosis and contracture of the flexor compartment pulls the fingers into flexion and the wrist into flexion and pronation. However, active extension of the fingers is possible when the wrist is passively flexed indicating that the contracture is in the forearm. Damage to the median nerve may result. ^[2]

[edit] Treatment

Surgery to release the fixed tissues may help with the deformity and function of the hand.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• -26542065 at GPnotebook
• Duke Orthopedics volkmanns_contracture

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v • d • e Consequences of external causes (T66-T88, 990-999) Temperature/radiation elevated: Hyperthermia · Heat syncope · Radiation poisoning reduced: Hypothermia · Immersion foot · Chilblain Air Hypoxia/Asphyxia · Barotrauma (Aerosinusitis, Decompression sickness) · Altitude sickness/Chronic mountain sickness Food Starvation Maltreatment Physical abuse · Sexual abuse · Psychological abuse Emesis Motion sickness · Seasickness · Airsickness · Space adaptation syndrome Other Electric shock · Anaphylaxis · Angioedema Hypersensitivity (Allergy, Arthus reaction) Subcutaneous emphysema Certain early complications of trauma embolism (Air, Fat) Crush syndrome/Rhabdomyolysis Contracture/Volkmann's contracture/Compartment syndrome Complications of surgical and medical care transfusion reactions: Transfusion hemosiderosis · TRALI · TACO · TA-GvHD · FNHTR · Acute/Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction other: Serum sickness · Malignant hyperthermia · Herxheimer reaction · Graft-versus-host disease · Tumor lysis syndrome