
|
Channels
|
||||||||||||||
|
Medical Health Encyclopedia
Volkmann’s ischemic contracture
From Healthscout's partner site on breast cancer, HealthCentral.com
Volkmann's contracture is a deformity of the hand, fingers, and wrist caused by injury to the muscles of the forearm. See also: Compartment syndrome Alternative Names
Ischemic contracture Causes, incidence, and risk factors Volkmann's contracture occurs when there is a lack of blood flow (ischemia) to the forearm. This usually occurs when there is increased pressure due to swelling, a condition called compartment syndrome. Trauma to the arm, including a crush injury or fracture, can lead to swelling that presses on blood vessels and can decrease blood flow to the arm. A prolonged decrease in blood flow will injure the nerves and muscles, causing them to become stiff (scarred) and shortened. ![]() When the muscle shortens, it pulls on the joint at the end of the muscle just as it would if it were normally contracted. But because it is stiff, the joint remains bent and cannot straighten. This condition is called a contracture. In Volkmann's contracture, the muscles of the forearm are severely injured. This leads to contracture deformities of the fingers, hand, and wrist. There are three levels of severity in Volkmann's contracture:
The injury that usually causes this condition is an elbow fracture in children. Other conditions that can cause increased pressure in the forearm include:
Review Date: 07/28/2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). ![]() | ||||||||||||||
|
Search
Health Tools
Featured Conditions
Resources
Find a Therapist
PR Newswire
|
New Features
|
|||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||