Adventitial stripping of the radial and ulnar arteries in Raynaud's disease.

Abstract

Adventitial stripping of the palmar arch, the palmar common digital arteries, or the proper digital arteries is a last resort in the treatment of refractory primary or secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. Seven patients who had adventitial stripping of the ulnar and radial arteries proximal to the wrist and resection of the nerve of Henle, if identifiable, are presented. All of them were evaluated by telethermography, acral rheography, and a questionnaire before and after surgery. All were asymptomatic after surgery with satisfactory healing of the ulcers at the fingertips. None of them relapsed during the follow-up time of 1.5 years.