Simpatectomía de la arteria radial y ulnar en contexto de úlcera digital secundaria a esclerosis sistémica cutánea localizada / Radial and ulnar artery sympathectomy in the context of digital ulcer secondary to localized cutaneous systemic sclerosis

SPeripheral sympathectomy is a procedure which has shown high rates of decreasing ischemic pain, recover functionality and wound healing, preventing the progression of the disease and further complications. We present a female patient with severe Raynaud´s phenomenon secondary to localized cutaneous systemic sclerosis complicated who presented digital ulcer treated with a sympathectomy of the radial and ulnar artery at the wrist level, undergoing post-operative follow-up.

Ultrasonographic Evaluation of a Patient With a Successful Digital Sympathectomy in Raynaud Phenomenon: A Case Report.

Selective periarterial sympathectomy in Raynaud phenomenon (RP) has not been adequately studied as there was no reliable method to evaluate outcomes. However, dynamic Doppler ultrasonography may have clinical value in the management and follow-up of patients with RP; but few reports describe using the device to assess surgical outcomes. Here, we report a case of successful digital sympathectomy in a single digit and the postoperative evaluation using ultrasonography. A 23-year-old patient with secondary RP underwent surgery targeting both common digital artery (ulnar side) and the proper digital artery (radial side). The procedure yielded immediate pain relief and the improvement of recurrent fingertip ulceration. The 1-year postoperative assessment with dynamic Doppler ultrasonography using a hockey-stick probe was performed with a cold provocation test and revealed peak systolic velocity improvement comparable to the nontreated ulnar side but prominent fibrosis on the radial aspect. We anticipate that Doppler ultrasonography may be an effective tool for the postoperative assessment of patients who underwent digital sympathectomy for treatment of RP.

Vascular branches from cutaneous nerve of the forearm and hand: Application to better understanding raynaud's disease.

Cutaneous nerves have branches called vascular branches (VBs) that reach arteries. VBs are thought to be involved in arterial constriction, and this is the rationale for periarterial sympathectomy as a treatment option for Raynaud's disease. However, the branching patterns and distribution areas of the VBs remain largely unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anatomical structures of the VBs of the cutaneous nerves. Forty hands and forearms were examined to assess the branching patterns and distribution areas of the VBs of the superficial branch of the radial nerve (SBRN), the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (LACN), the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MACN), and the palmar cutaneous branch of the ulnar nerve (PCUN). VBs reaching the radial and ulnar arteries were observed in all specimens. The branching patterns were classified into six types. The mean distance between the radial styloid process and the point where the VBs reached the radial artery was 34.3 ± 4.8 mm in the SBRN and 38.5 ± 15.8 mm in the LACN. The mean distance between the ulnar styloid process and the point where the VBs reached the ulnar artery was 60.3 ± 25.9 mm in the MACN and 43.8 ± 26.0 mm in the PCUN. This study showed that the VBs of the cutaneous nerves have diverse branching patterns. The VBs of the SBRN had a more limited distribution areas than those of the other nerves. Clin. Anat. 31:734-741, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effect of hand position on digit and ulnar artery vasoconstrictor reflexes.

The degree of digit and ulnar reflex vasoconstriction is a useful measure of hand sympathetic function. Reflex vasoconstriction is generally expressed as the percentage of reflex reduction in blood flow compared to resting flow. Sympathetic traffic to and from the hand can be altered by environmental testing factors, and lead to a reduction in reflex vasoconstriction. In this study we tested the effect of pronation and supination on inspiratory gasp induced digit skin and ulnar artery vasoconstrictor reflex responses. In 11 healthy subjects (range 21-65 yrs, mean 39 yrs, 8 females, 3 males) the mean second digit vasoconstriction in supination was 55 (SD 19)/44 (SD 20), for pronation 55 (SD19)/48 (SD19); for the fourth digit, in supination 63 (SD18)/59 (SD 21), in pronation 64 (SD15)/69 (SD13) (right and left). Mean ulnar vasoconstriction in supination was 81 (SD 11)/88 (SD11), for pronation 81 (SD10)/86 (SD12) (right and left). For all vascular regions, reflex vasoconstriction was not significantly different between pronation and supination. All subjects felt the pronation position more comfortable and an added benefit of this position was significantly shorter testing time.

Anatomy of the ulnar artery as it relates to the transverse carpal ligament.

The anatomic relationship between the ulnar artery and transverse carpal ligament (TCL) as an aid in planning for minimally invasive carpal tunnel surgery was investigated. The anatomic course of the ulnar artery and its branches toward the TCL and the location of the median nerve were determined in 24 fresh cadaver hands perfused with a silicone compound. The ulnar artery coursed from 7 mm ulnar to 2 mm radial to the hook of hamate. The average distance between the superficial palmar arch and the distal margin of the TCL was 12 mm as measured along the flexor tendon of the ring finger. The location of the median nerve extended an average of 11 mm radial to the hook of hamate. A small arterial branch (average diameter, 0.7 mm) from the ulnar artery ran transversely just over the TCL in 6 of the 24 specimens. This branch was consistently located within 15 mm proximal to the TCL distal margin. These and other microscopic observations indicated that transecting the ligament at approximately 5 mm radial to the radial margin of the hook of hamate may minimize postoperative bleeding and avoid iatrogenic vascular and neural injury.

[Periarterial sympathectomy of the radial and ulnar arteries in Raynaud's phenomenon--a preliminary study]. / Denervierung der A. radialis und der A. ulnaris bei sekundärem Raynaud-Syndrom--erste Ergebnisse.

PURPOSE: Assessment of the post-operative results of peripheral sympathectomy in Raynaud's phenomenon. METHODS: Six patients with therapy refractory Raynaud's phenomenon underwent a 4 cm long adventitial stripping of the radial and ulnar arteries proximal to the wrist. The nerve of Henle was followed up to the surface of the palmar arch and resected. The pre- and postoperative examinations were performed using the help of a questionnaire, telethermography and infra-red laser reflexion rheography. RESULTS: All but two patients (two hands) were free of complaints (four patients, six hands), the three ulcers on the finger tips healed well. According to the questionnaire there was a dramatic improvement in the quality of life of the patients. CONCLUSION: In the follow-up period of two years, there was no recurrence. Adventitial stripping of the radial and ulnar arteries and resection of the nerve of Henle proximal to the wrist have demonstrated favourable results in the treatment of therapy-resistant complaints in Raynaud's phenomenon.

[Anatomical study on reverse flap of dorso-ulnar aspect of mid-hand and its clinical application].

OBJECTIVE: To provide anatomical bases for dorso-ulnar aspect of mid-hand reverse flap. METHODS: After red latex was infused into the arteries of 40 sides of adult cadava upper limbs, the origin, course, branches, distribution and distal anastomosis on the dorsal carpal branch of ulnar arteries were observed. And the mid-hand flap transfer was used to repair two cases of soft tissue defect (ranged 4.5-5.0 cm x 2.0-3.5 cm on ring and little fingers). RESULTS: The dorsal carpal branch begins with ulnar artery (3.9 +/- 1.2) cm above the pisiform with diameter of (1.3 +/- 0.2) mm, and branches off into ascending and descending branches. The descending one is the continuing of dorsal branch, it crosses the ulnar edge of the fifth metecarpal bone and anastomizes with the digital artery of little finger or hypothenar branch of deep palmar (accounted for 70%). While the other ascending branch with the former two branches formed anastomosis accounts for 30%. The two cases got healed in one-stage. The function of fingers recovered after 3-4 month follow-up. CONCLUSION: The reverse flap of dorso-ulnar aspect of mid-hand is available to repair the soft tissue defect on dorsum of hand with neighbor finger.

Ulnar artery as a coronary bypass graft.

BACKGROUND: The ulnar artery has been used as a coronary bypass graft in 8 patients when it was deemed unsafe to harvest the radial artery after evaluation of the arterial circulation in the forearm and hand. METHODS: The ulnar artery was removed from the lower three quarters of the forearm, along with its satellite veins. Dissection was commenced distally near the wrist and extended proximally to where the ulnar artery passed between the two heads of origin of the flexor digitorum superficialis. The artery was divided distally above the wrist joint and proximally at a point immediately below the origin of the common interosseus artery. RESULTS: Ten ulnar arteries were removed for use as coronary artery bypass grafts; two were rejected, one because of severe calcification and the other because of atherosclerotic occlusion. The remaining eight ulnar arteries were grafted successfully to coronary arteries other than the left anterior descending. No early hand or cardiac complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The ulnar artery is an alternative coronary artery bypass graft that may be used when the radial artery is dominant and cannot be removed without risk. The ulnar artery is in close proximity to the ulnar nerve and harvesting has the potential to injure the nerve. Therefore, until the use of the ulnar artery has been more fully evaluated it should be used only when other options have been exhausted.