Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2011 Sep 26:2011:bcr0520114201.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.05.2011.4201.

Volkmann ischemic contracture in a newborn

Marta Rios  1 , Cristiana Ribeiro, Paula Soares, Rosa Amorim, Angélica Osório, Banquart Leitão, Alexandra Almeida
Affiliations
Case Reports

Volkmann ischemic contracture in a newborn

Marta Rios et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture is a very rare condition in which a neonate presents skin, muscular and nerve lesions due to increased intracompartment pressure and subsequent ischemia, probably due to extrinsic intrauterine compression. In this age group, there are only about 50 reported cases and a specific cause is unknown. The authors describe the case of a newborn who presented with bullous and ulcerated skin lesions and nerve palsy of his forearm at birth, evolving to subcutaneous and muscular necrosis and contracture. Two surgeries were performed and the baby began a daily physiotherapy program that resulted in aesthetical improvement and recovery of his hand and forearm mobility. Early recognition of this rare entity and subsequent emergency fasciotomy are the best ways to improve prognosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A, B) Affected limb in the delivery room: disrupted bullous and ulcerated skin throughout the left forearm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forearm on second day: skin and muscular necrosis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A, B) Affected limb 1 year after diagnosis: some scarring and forearm atrophy, recovery of forearm and hand mobility.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Raimer L, McCarthy RA, Raimer D, et al. Congenital Volkmann ischemic contracture: a case report. Pediatr Dermatol 2008;25:352–4 - PubMed
    1. Caoutte-Laberge L, Bortoluzzi P, Egerszegi EP, et al. Neonatal Volkmann’s isquemic contracture of the forearm: a report of five cases. Plast Reconstr Surg 1992;90:621–8 - PubMed
    1. Dandurand M, Michel B, Fabre C, et al. [Neonatal Volkmann’s syndrome]. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2009;136:785–9 - PubMed
    1. Cham PM, Drolet BA, Segura AD, et al. Congenital Volkmann ischaemic contracture: a case report and review. Br J Dermatol 2004;150:357–63 - PubMed
    1. Léauté-Labrèze C, Depaire-Duclos F, Sarlangue J, et al. Congenital cutaneous defects as complications in surviving co-twins. Aplasia cutis congenita and neonatal volkmann ischemic contracture of the forearm. Arch Dermatol 1998;134:1121–4 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources