A fibrosis and tightening of the muscles of the forearm because blood supply has been restricted, leading to contraction of the fingers.
A contraction of the muscles that suppresses the flow of blood to an extremity, most commonly the hand. It is usually a complication of elbow or forearm fractures causing a severe deformity and paralysis of the hand or wrist. A surgical procedure may be needed if conservative therapy fails.
A rare condition in which, as a result of too great a pressure from splint or bandage in the treatment of a broken arm, the flexor muscles of the forearm contract and thus obstruct free flow of blood in the veins; the muscles then swell and ultimately become fibrosed.
Degeneration, contracture, fibrosis, and atrophy of a muscle resulting from injury to its blood supply; usually seen in the hand.
A condition affecting the wrist and fingers where they become permanently stuck in a flexed position.
Volkmann’s contracture arises due to insufficient blood flow to the muscles in the forearm that govern the wrist and fingers, often stemming from an injury.
At the onset, the fingers turn cold, lose sensation, and may appear white or blue. Movements of the fingers become weak and cause pain, and a pulse is absent at the wrist. If medical intervention is not initiated within a short period, deformities in the wrist and fingers will occur.
To treat this condition, any misaligned bones are first manually repositioned, followed by surgical intervention to restore blood flow in the forearm if needed. In cases of permanent deformity, physiotherapy may be employed to improve the function of the affected areas.