Superficial palmar arch aneurysm secondary to blunt trauma: Bag of ice versus bare hand!

A 45-year-old male prisoner was referred to the orthopedic outpatients clinic after he sustained a blunt palmar injury when he tried to break-up a bag of ice with the volar aspect of his hand. A few months later a pulsatile expansile mass developed at the site of blunt trauma affecting flexion and extension of the fingers and inability to hold objects. A computed tomography angiogram confirmed the mass to be a true aneurysm of the superficial palmar arch 3 cm in size. The patient was referred to the vascular surgery department where the aneurysm was dissected and ligated with removal of the thrombus with no reconstruction of the vessel necessary. The patient had an uneventful recovery with return of full function.