Radial Artery Injury with Attempted Intravenous Catheterization on the Dorsal Hand: A Case Report.

Cureus. 2018 Jul 23;10(7):e3033. doi: 10.7759/cureus.3033.

Alimi Y, Iwanaga J, Oskouian RJ, Loukas M, Tubbs RS.

---

Abstract

Intravenous (IV) access on the dorsum of the hand is of high clinical significance. As it is possible for an arterial injury during IV access on the dorsum of the hand to occur, clinicians and healthcare providers should be cognizant of regional anatomy and anatomical variations during IV placement so as to prevent injuries to the radial artery. We report a case of an injury to the radial artery with an attempted hand IV placement in a cadaver and suggest possible ways to prevent this complication.

KEYWORDS:

anatomy; injury; intravenous; radial artery

Figure 1

Right hand of the case presented herein

Note the hematoma involving the first dorsal interosseous muscle and the relationship to the radial artery, which has been colored red for clarity.