Ulcerated plaque in the ulnar artery causing distal seeding of microemboli: a possible early stage of ulnar artery thrombosis.

Abstract

Angiography of a patient presenting with ischemia of the ring and small fingers, but with patent arterial inflow through the ulnar artery on Allen's test, demonstrated stenosis of the ulnar artery just distal to Guyon's canal. Surgical exploration revealed a discrete ulcerated plaque with an overlying loosely adherent thrombus. An ulcerated plaque in one of the main inflow arteries to the hand may produce ischemia of the fingers by seeding microemboli distally into the digital arteries. This pathophysiologic mechanism may represent a very early phase of incipient or impending thrombosis of the ulnar artery and may eventually progress to complete thrombosis. Early recognition and treatment by resection of the involved arterial segment and microsurgical reconstruction may prevent the evolution to complete ulnar artery thrombosis.