HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sugawara, M. Articles by Ish, S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sugawara, M. Articles by Ish, S.

Digital ischemia in baseball players

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine

Toshihiko Ogino, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine

Akio Minami, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine

Sechi Ish, MD

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sapporo Medical College, Sapporo, Japan

Eight baseball players developed digital ischemia as a result of repetitive ball impact. Symptoms and signs were coolness, numbness, cyanosis, paleness, and a positive reaction to the digital Allen's test. Seven of the eight players developed digital ischemia between the ages of 16 and 17. Angiograms of four patients with an occluded index digital artery are presented. Thermo- grams of four patients with a cool area of the left index finger are also presented.

We investigated the incidence of digital ischemia by administration of a questionnaire. The respondents were 578 players belonging to clubs in junior high schools, high schools, and colleges. No digital ischemia was found in 207 junior high school baseball players. The incidence increased in high school (66 of 299) and college (29 of 72). The probability of developing digital ischemia corresponded to the accumulated playing time. Digital ischemia occurred characteristically in the left index finger.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. A. Ginn, A. M. Smith, J. R. Snyder, L. A. Koman, B. P. Smith, and J. Rushing Vascular Changes of the Hand in Professional Baseball Players with Emphasis on Digital Ischemia in Catchers J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., July 1, 2005; 87(7): 1464 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. REAGAN, A. B. GRUNDBERG, and J. M. REAGAN Digital Artery Damage Associated with Closed Crush Injuries J Hand Surg Eur Vol., August 1, 2002; 27(4): 374 - 377. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. G. MCNAMARA, T. E. BUTLER, W. E. SANDERS, and W. C. PEDERSON Ischaemia of the Index Finger and Thumb Secondary to Thrombosis of the Radial Artery in the Anatomical Snuffbox J Hand Surg Eur Vol., February 1, 1998; 23(1): 28 - 32. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Rosi, O. Pichot, J. L. Bosson, G. Calabrese, and P. Carpentier Echographic and Doppler screening of the forearm arteries in professional volleyball players Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 1992; 20(5): 604 - 606. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. W. Nuber, W. J. McCarthy, J. S.T. Yao, M. F. Schafer, and J. R. Suker Arterial abnormalities of the hand in athletes Am. J. Sports Med., September 1, 1990; 18(5): 520 - 523. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y. Itoh, K. Wakano, T. Takeda, and T. Murakami Circulatory disturbances in the throwing hand of baseball pitchers Am. J. Sports Med., June 1, 1987; 15(3): 264 - 269. [Abstract] [PDF]